JON Roper is to keep his loose forward role for Warrington Wolves as Super League IV kicks off this weekend.

The Wolves's campaign starts against Halifax Blue Sox at the New Shay on Sunday and 22-year-old centre Roper turned out to be Warrington's matchwinner against Halifax in the Challenge Cup at the weekend after his surprise selection at the rear of the scrum.

Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde has named an unchanged starting line-up going into what promises to be the best Super League season yet but there is a doubt over the fitness of Lee Penny.

The full back picked up a foot injury in the 34-4 win on Sunday and if he does not pass a fitness test then Van de Velde will have to consider shuffling his side around.

Chris Rudd would be the first choice replacement for Penny but he is struggling with his Achilles and Scott Wilson would be the favourite to switch to the back with Roper moving in at stand off. Under 21s winger Will Cowell could also step in.

Van de Velde has not named his substitutes and there could be a change here from last week, when Dean Busby was the 18th man and missed out.

Pendlebury is expected to change his team around. Moving stand off Graham Holroyd to full back did not work out for them in the cup tie and Van de Velde did admit he was surprised that overseas back rowers Des Clark and Martin Moana did not start the game at Wilderspool.

Whatever selections Pendlebury makes, Van de Velde knows his team are in for a tough time.

He says: "They know more of what to expect from us now and will be smarting after their defeat."

Warrington's players have been working on ball retention and maintaining the defensive line in training this week with highly-demanding Van de Velde knowing there is still plenty of room for improvement.

In the games against Featherstone and Halifax Warrington's players have been guilty of pushing one pass too many when more patient approach play could have brought extra points.

Van de Velde says: "This is a crucial part of the whole make-up of the season. I want the team to lift its ball retention rate to above 75 per cent so there has to be a drastic improvement in this area. Working towards mistake-free 80 minutes of rugby will be on-going.

"Against Halifax it was the strength of our defence which pulled us through. But I was not happy with the defensive line all through the game and work on this will be on-going too.

"Players need to consider every play to be the most important play of the game and not drop out of the defensive line. When this happens the team may end up paying the price."

Team to face Halifax, kick-off 3pm: Lee Penny; Jason Roach, Toa Kohe-Love, Alan Hunte, Mark Forster; Scott Wilson, Lee Briers; Mark Hilton, Danny Farrar, Danny Nutley, Steve McCurrie, Simon Gillies, Jon Roper. Subs likely to be from: Gary Chambers, Ian Knott, Mike Wainwright, Dean Hanger, Dean Busby.

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