WARRINGTON prop Ashton Sims admits the arrival of NRL discard Chris Sandow gives the Wolves a huge lift going into the Super 8s.

The 26-year-old former Parramatta playmaker was unveiled at the Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier this week and is set to make his Super League debut against Leeds at Headingley on Friday.

Warrington head into the second stage of the season in sixth place, four points adrift of the final play-off spot, currently occupied by Huddersfield.

media_camera Ashton Sims playing for the Cowboys.

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The Wolves’ situation means Sandow needs to hit the ground running - and Sims expects his compatriot to do just that.

“He’s definitely a big X-factor,” Sims said.

“That’s what he was back home, I can’t see him being any different over here.

“We’re not just going to sign him and let him do it all on his own. We have to learn to play with him and the quicker we do that the better we will be as a team.

“He’s been a really good player for a long time.

media_camera Chris Sandow arrives in Warrington.

“Playing against him, he’s beaten us on a few occasions at (South Sydney) and at Parra so I’m glad he’s on my team.

“It will be a huge lift for us. He’s only going to improve our team.”

It is not just a new start for Sandow, who publicly fell out with the Eels before being granted an early release from his contract, but for clubs across the Super 8s.

Sims expects the intensity to increase in the top eight as the race to Old Trafford hots up.

Originally published as Sims praises Sandow as Wolves’ X-factor