WARRINGTON'S strength in depth this year means they will not miss suspended Danny Nutley and Toa Kohe-Love as much as they might have done in seasons past.

The blow of hard-working Nutley's absence has been softened by Andrew Gee's return to the front row to face French cup holders Villeneuve Leopards in the Silk Cut Challenge Cup quarter-finals tie at Wilderspool on Sunday.

And David Kidwell will start in the centre position instead of Kohe-Love, who along with Nutley picked up two-match bans off Rugby Football League disciplinary chiefs following the stormy Super League encounter at Wigan Warriors on Friday.

With prop Martin Masella still absent through injury and Nutley being suspended, Gee's selection is most crucial.

Gee has not played since a close-season shoulder operation in Australia.

Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde said: "He is looking forward to getting back into action. He has done a lot of hard work in training and could have possibly played last week but after speaking to the specialist in Australia it was a precautionary measure to wait one more week.

"Andrew brings to the team heaps of leadership ability and he keeps the pack moving forward."

Jerome Guisset, up against fellow France World Cup 2000 stars in the Villeneuve team, will continue in the front row alongside Gee after a strong performance against Wigan.

Tawera Nikau, sent off against Wigan but not banned by the disciplinary committee this week, will be in the starting line-up.

Van de Velde is expected to make further changes to the team but had not revealed them before the Guardian went to press.

The Wolves' 2000 top try scorer Alan Hunte is fit again after a knee arthroscope operation and the Guardian expects him to feature for the first time this season.

Steve Georgallis, a substitute for the past two games, could be in line for a starting spot. Competition for places is certainly fierce.

Van de Velde has this week studied tapes of Villeneuve in action and is warning his players to treat Grant Doorey's team as a serious threat to Warrington's hopes of a second successive semi-finals appearance.

He said: "Villeneuve play alright. They have some good moves and some decent skills and I can see why they are leading the French Championship.

"Our players must be fully committed against them and there can be no complacency. It is another crucial match in the history of the club."

Van de Velde and the players were appreciative of the support at Wigan and are hoping fans will turn out in force again for the 3pm kick-off.

Very few Villeneuve fans will be making the trip and so it will be up to the Wolves fans, like it was at Wigan, to generate the atmosphere.

The Challenge Cup semi-finals draw will be made on BBC2 on Sunday and is scheduled for 6.10pm following the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats versus Bradford Bulls televised tie, which kicks off at 3.30pm.