THE mechanics of Warrington Wolves' style of play for 2019 will start to come together this week.

Preparations for the new campaign are now three weeks old as the players aim to get through as much work as possible before Christmas.

Full-back Stefan Ratchford and hooker Daryl Clark – two key members of The Wire's creative spine – are still on their post-season break, but head coach Steve Price will go into more detail about his plans with his coaching staff and half-backs Blake Austin, Kevin Brown and Declan Patton.

"We’ve been discussing little ways we want to play," Austin said.

"Obviously Stef and Daryl aren’t here yet, and Dec only got back last week.

"We’ll sit down with Pricey and Briersey to really nail down the style of footy we want to play.

"I’ll put my ideas forward and listen to theirs and we’ll come up with a style to suit us.

"Once that's sorted, I can’t wait to knuckle down to some footy and pinpoint how we want to play."

Ratchford, Clark, Chris Hill, Jack Hughes and Joe Philbin – all of whom played extensively for club and country during and after the season – are the only squad members who are still on their breaks. They are expected to return just before Christmas.

Next year will represent a first crack at Super League for Austin, who has played in the NRL with Canberra Raiders, Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers.

Plenty is expected of the former Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year, but the 27-year-old says it would be "disrespectful" of him to sweep in and attempt to change everything.

"I’ve been conscious not to judge the game too much," he said.

"It would have been easy for me to sit in my armchair at home thinking ‘this is what’s going to work and this is what’s not going to work.’

"Until I get out there and try it, it would be disrespectful of me to come over here and say this is the way we should be playing when I haven’t tried it.

"The weather’s going to play a bit of a role in the style we’re going to have to play early on.

"I’m open-minded, excited to give it a go and we’ll go from there."