Whitehaven have been given a huge clue as to how to tackle Widnes tomorrow - by the Vikings coach Tim Sheens.

Following last week’s second Championship defeat at Dewsbury he admitted his team need more beef up front.

The Vikings, relegated from the Super League two years ago, rely on Kenny Baker and twins Jay and Ted Chapelhow for the hard yards up front.

Sheens reckons they are still getting used to the different approach to the game in the Championship and it is taking time.

“I’m always looking to improve the squad. We need a bit more in our middle and that’s an area we need to get better.

“If I was coaching against our team, that’s the area I’d go for,” says the veteran 69-year-old Australian coach.

He knows what it is like in the boiler room of an Aussie pack as a former prop forward with the Sydney club Penrith in the seventies and eighties. He became their coach on retiring, and subsequently head coach of the World Cup winners.

Sheens says he is biding his time, to make sure he does the right thing by the club.

“We’ve got money in the salary cap to bring people in but I’ve been around long enough not to dive in, especially at this stage of the season.

Sheens has also been pleasantly surprised by the wealth of talent the Vikings have unearthed in their Academy and Reserve sides.

“I’m pretty hands on with the reserves,” he said.

“While I’m looking at bringing guys in, I won’t overlook or pass over the boys we have here, and there are many I will call on this year, believe me.”

Whitehaven coach Gary Charlton will clearly be looking for a big impact from his forwards, particularly men like skipper Marc Shackley, Tom Walker, Kris Coward, Ethan Kelly and Jamie Thackray.

Meanwhile, Halifax have confirmed the signing of Haven target Tommy Lee.

The Yorkshire side moved in when they heard the 32-year-old former Super League star was considering a shock return after announcing his retirement last July.

Lee, a friend of Haven forward Thackray, had been invited to training on Wednesday to talk with the club directors, but backed out, saying he had been put-off by the amount of travelling from his home on Humberside.