Four stars set to return to Wigan Warriors squad

Prop Ben Flower (back) and winger Dom Manfredi (knee) may be available for their first matches of the year.

And marquee recruit George Burgess (hip) and hooker Sam Powell (head knock) are set to return from injuries suffered in the opening round win against Warrington, says Adrian Lam.

Wigan have a long turnaround before their next match - against Hull FC on Sunday, February 23 - and they will be monitored through next week.

But their collective return, either next week or soon after, will dial up the competition for places in the squad - even accounting for Sean O'Loughlin's likely absence with an eye injury.

Lam said: "Maybe four of them will potentially be available.

We've got the young ones, too, in Liam Byrne and Ethan Havard who didn't play against Toronto.

"And that's a positive because at some stages last year we had to pretty much use who was left.

"That's no disrespect to the squad it's just how it was, we ended up using something like 36 players. Only once we were able to play the same team two weeks in a row.

"We have to manage this process, because everyone wants to play and you obviously can't fit them all in.

"But if we're honest and working hard, it breeds competition and performances will improve."