TWO key Warrington Wolves front rowers need to go under the knife following undisclosed injuries they bravely overcame to pull on the primrose and blue jersey during 2005.

Hooker Jon Clarke, an ever-present in the 30-match season, is due to have an operation next week to repair a tear in his groin, while prop forward Chris Leikvoll had surgery on Tuesday because of a damaged shoulder.

Player-of-the-year Brent Grose has found out from scan results that he came through the end of the campaign with a hairline fracture of his wrist, but rest now that he is back at home in Australia should sort out the problem.

Mark Hilton is to visit a specialist about the recurring back complaint he soldiered on with throughout the year.

From the Academy age group, prop Steve Pickersgill is expected to require an operation for a shoulder injury and winger Chris Riley is now recovering from a broken hand he sustained in the last game.

Head coach Paul Cullen adopts a policy of not declaring particular injuries in order to prevent targets being painted on players' trouble spots when they are required by the team to take to the field in a busted condition.

Cullen is aware that this policy can sometimes lead to players receiving criticism from supporters for performances that they may deem to be below par but the Wolves chief hopes that, with the benefit of the full facts, fans may reflect with a different viewpoint.

Wolves' players, after their season ended with play-offs defeat to Hull a fortnight ago, returned to the fold for one day this week to learn all about the plans in place for the off-season, pre-season training, trial matches and the winter training camp on the Canary island, Lanzarote.

Cullen said: "The off-season will run through October and players have been given an off-season training programme to follow.

"Some of that programme will be done at the club but most of it will be done away from the club.

"Pre-season training will start for some in the first week of November - that'll be for the players who are available as some have international duties (see story above).

"All of the overseas players not involved in international matches will be in the country and starting their programmes as from November 1 - and that's a first for this club. They've usually been given the luxury of turning up after Christmas but that won't be the case any more.

"The internationals, who will be playing until the end of November, will come back with us for January 1."

Cullen added: "We'll operate a five-game trial process through December and January and the pre-season camp in Lanzarote will be the third week in January, so we're well advanced and planned."

Wolves' expected friendly dates are December 26 (away to Widnes, kick-off 3pm), January 1, January 15, January 29 and one other that will possibly be February 1.