IT is not surprising there is confidence and optimism in abundance around Wilderspool at the start of Warrington Wolves' 1999 campaign.

The quality players on Warrington Wolves' substitute's bench for their opening Challenge Cup tie with Featherstone Rovers proves the strength of Darryl Van de Velde's squad.

Warrington's coach has all but two of his 25 first teamers available for selection on Sunday and such is the clamour for places it means there is no room in the starting line-up for Jon Roper, Steve McCurrie, who has recovered from a minor knee operation, Gary Chambers and Dean Busby.

They will be on the bench for the 3pm kick-off at Wilderspool.

For Featherstone the news is not so good with ex-Wolves back rower Brendon Tuuta's arrival being delayed after being laid low with chicken pox.

And due to other injuries in the squad Featherstone coach Kevin Hobbs has delayed naming his team.

With Wolves full back Lee Penny passing a fitness test this week after recovering from a hamstring injury Van de Velde has been able to name the same starting 13 which performed admirably in the friendly success over St. Helens a fortnight ago.

This means there will be senior full debuts for Great Britain international Alan Hunte plus Australians Simon Gillies and Scott Wilson.

Van de Velde is delighted to be in the position of having so much competition for places.

He said: "Just take the centres for example - I could not leave Toa Kohe-Love or Alan Hunte out of the team after the way they played against St. Helens.

"Hunty's got a lot of class and I was really happy with Toa last week when we had a game between our under 21s and under 19s. He did some really special things that you just can't coach. He's looking really sharp.

"But I need Jon Roper on the field in the starting 13. There are other positions he can play and I will look at them options over the next few weeks.

"Also Dean Hanger is back in mainstream training after injury and is sniffing around for a spot in the backline so he's putting pressure on everyone too.

"All the players have to look over their shoulder for competition which is the way it has to be.

"I want to get the best out of my players every week and the only way to do that is to put pressure on them. Then if they don't perform they'll be on the bench, spelling or playing Under 21s."

There has been a setback for Chris Rudd this week which is why he will miss out on Sunday.

Rudd's Achilles' heel trouble, which dogged the end of his 1998 season, has flared up again and he has been receiving some intensive treatment. It is a blow for the Cumbrian who was on a high last Friday when he and teammate Chambers received their Testimonial fund cheques (see letter on page 54).

Van de Velde has been keen to focus the players' minds on the fourth round Silk Cut tie but a good run in the Challenge Cup would be a brilliant tonic on the back of the fresh optimism surrounding the club.

Van de Velde said: "I'd be lieing if I said I didn't want to get to Wembley but we just want to focus on this week's game."

Van de Velde knows Rovers, last year's first division beaten grand finalists, will be no pushovers and has been studying videos of their cup win over Thornhill and opening league defeat of Rochdale Hornets carefully.

He said: "They have a big pack of forwards and will be enthusiastic and aggressive.

"There are a lot of young players in their side and former Super League players too in Hitro Okesene, Asa Amone, Carl Hall, Richard Chapman and Jamie Coventry.

"We'll give them the respect they deserve but we're going to take the match to them. The first 20 minutes will be tough. Rovers will give it everything they have got and we will have to absorb it and counter it very quickly."

Wolves team: Lee Penny; Jason Roach, Toa Kohe-Love, Alan Hunte, Mark Forster; Scott Wilson, Lee Briers; Mark Hilton, Danny Farrar, Danny Nutley, Simon Gillies, Mike Wainwright, Ian Knott. Subs: Jon Roper, Gary Chambers, Steve McCurrie, Dean Busby.

The fifth round draw will be live on BBC2 Sunday Grandstand at 5.10pm. Members will be able to see the draw on the big screen in the Touchdown Club.

The new replica home jerseys have arrived and are on sale at the Wilderspool shop.

Adult tops are priced £39.99, or £41.99 with added Super League logos, and junior jerseys are £31.99. The shop will be open normal hours today, Friday, and from 10am to 2pm tomorrow, Saturday.

Warrington's U21s begin their league campaign at St. Helens tonight, Friday, in a game rearranged from Wednesday.

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