Wigan Warriors’ Ben Flower was handed a six-month ban for punching St Helens’ Lance Hohaia in the opening two minutes of last season’s Grand Final but has now served his suspension, gaining inclusion to the squad to face Warrington Wolves at the DW Stadium on Thursday evening.

Former Wigan Warriors star Sam Tomkins is set for a return to Super League after New Zealand Warriors agreed to release him from his contract.

Wigan, currently fifth in the standings, have had far from an ideal start to the campaign and coach Shaun Wane conceded that the Warriors must be on top form in their first competitive encounter with the champions since October’s Grand Final.

Super League 2014 grand finalists Wigan were beaten in convincing fashion at Castleford Tigers last weekend and coach Shaun Wane insists his side must show their true grit in order to get back to winning ways.

The Warriors will host the Brisbane Broncos in the second match of the inaugural new-format World Club Series – which sees three Super League teams face off against three Australian NRL clubs over the weekend.

Both Super League heavyweights got their respective campaigns off to faltering starts last weekend, with the Giants crashing to a 19-0 home defeat while the Warriors could only draw at Widnes.

Wigan raced into a 16-6 lead before half time at The Select Security Stadium, with Widnes also having Patrick Ah Van sent off, before the hosts fought back to snatch a point in the dying embers of the game.

The Warriors came painstakingly close to a fourth Super League crown last term, only to be pipped at the post by local rivals St Helens, and Joel Tomkins was adamant the squad will take it further this season – starting with victory in the World Club Series.

Welsh international Flower received a six-month ban following his sending-off in the Trafford showpiece for a double-punch on St Helens’ Lance Hohaia.

After Man Utd’s victory over Hull, manager Louis van Gaal, who has managed some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs in the form of Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, bemoaned the fact that the Reds have to play over Christmas.

The Warriors issued a statement on their website explaining Flower had been found guilty of gross misconduct due to violent conduct, bringing into disrepute the Wigan club and the game of rugby league.