WIDNES will be boosted by the return of up to four key players when they begin their Super 8s campaign at Halifax on Sunday.

Coach Denis Betts has reported that skipper Kevin Brown, hooker Lloyd White and experienced forwards Danny Tickle and Eamon O’Carroll are all available for selection at The Shay.

There has been some debate in rugby league circles in recent weeks about the importance of injured players being able to get some game-time under their belts before they return to first-team duty.

However, with no ‘A’ Team or Reserve Grade structure in Super League, that has become tricky to facilitate.

But Betts is confident his stars will have no problem getting straight back into the groove.

He said “With full-time conditioners, nutrition, and the way we train now with an understanding through GPS data of where the players are at, it’s a lot more do-able.

“You’re never quite going to be able to replicate a game; you can’t really get the anxiety and adrenalin a game gives you. But you can replicate different scenarios.

“Obviously you want them to quickly get used to the pace of the game.

“With the quality of players I’m looking at bringing back, I expect them to be okay.

“I got injuries in my career but I don’t think I played Reserve Grade from about 18 years of age.

“There are certain players I’d always be happy to put straight back into a first-team scenario if we can get them right fitness-wise.”

Betts believes his team has benefited from the break afforded them by last weekend’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Apart from getting injured players fit again, it’s also given him the chance to assimilate new Australian signing Charly Runciman into his squad.

Runciman is expected to make his debut at left centre against Fax.

Betts added “Charly’s settled in really well. He’s a great kid.

“One of the good things about having him here is his character. He’s a strong individual who knows his own mind and what he wants to achieve. He’s enjoying it so far.

“The break has done us a load of good.

“If we’d made the Cup semis we’d have embraced it and there may have been a couple of players we’d have pulled back a bit quicker, like Kev (Brown) for example.

“But this weekend has just given us a chance to pull together and freshen up.

“We’ve had 30 blokes training this week. It’s nice to see all but one or two players out on the field.

“It gives us a chance to evaluate where we are.”

Although the Vikings will start favourites this weekend, Halifax’s form in the Championship suggests they will be no easy-beats.

Richard Marshall’s men have won their last nine games but coach Betts is determined to see his team get off to a flying start as they fight for their Super League survival.

“The Middle 8s is a clean slate. It’s a new competition and that’s how we’ve got to look at it.

“But it’s not like you need any pre-season games or you need to try a lot of different combinations.

“We’ve already played 23 Rounds even though it’s a clean-slate in terms of league points.

“It’s going to be a bit like knockout rugby and getting off to a winning start would obviously help to take away the anxiety and the pressure that could build up. Nobody’s hiding away from anything. We know exactly what this competition is and what’s at stake.”