WIDNES coach Denis Betts believes new signing Setaimata Sa will add more cutting edge to his team in 2016.

The 27-year-old back-rower will be joining the Vikings for next season from Hull as they look to improve on this year’s ninth placed finish on the First Utility Super League ladder.

And despite the fact that Sa has not featured much for the Airlie Birds in recent times, Betts insists he has no injury concerns over the new man.

He said: “There are no issues with his fitness.

“We enquired about him at the beginning of the year and his intention then was to go back home.

“But the situation changed and he became available again and we decided we wanted him to be part of our squad.

“He’s somebody who can provide us with something a little bit different on our edges.

“He’s a centre/back-rower but from my conversations with him he’s leaning more towards playing back row.

“He gives us that utility value you need in the game today.

“We looked at a few back-rowers and we did our due diligence because we didn’t want someone about the place who isn’t going to enhance it.

“I’ve spoken to a number of people who’ve known him for a number of years.

“We’re getting a quality person and at 27 years of age we’re getting someone who there’s more to come from.

“I don’t think he’s even hit anywhere near his potential at this moment in time but I think we might find it in that back-row position with his ability to offload and play pre-line and post-line.”

The signing of Sa could mean that second row Chris Clarkson, currently on loan from Leeds Rhinos, may be moving on to pastures new next season with rumours of interest from Hull Kingston Rovers.

Betts has hinted there yet be more room for other additions to his squad as he looks to create even more competition for places.

He added: “My job is recruitment and development.

“If I can recruit high quality people in to this organisation to make it better, I will.

“It’s about who’s available and will they make the team better and how do I make that work.

“Everybody here knows that if they’re not hitting the standards we require on or off the field, then I will recruit someone who will do that.

“That’s part of the ongoing evolution of this team. We need to put people around the ones we’ve got to make them better.

“We just need to create that bit more competition to give people that extra push forward.

“I’m not disappointed with the squad this year.

“I’m disappointed with where we finished in the league and that we weren’t able to close out certain games.

"But we’re looking to recruit players and develop those that are here so that next year we do not just make the top eight; we’re looking for a Top Four spot.”

Meanwhile, Betts will have the luxury to be picking from strength for this Sunday’s game against Sheffield Eagles in The Qualifiers.

Both winger Paddy Flynn and prop forward Eamon O’Carroll, who missed out on selection for last weekend’s 14-0 at Halifax, are likely to get a run out on Sunday.

The Eagles lost their first game in The Qualifiers 42-10 at Bradford Bulls on Sunday and will come to the Select Security Stadium as massive underdogs.