BEN Flower has been urged to "carry on from where he left off" when he resumes his career for Wigan - or face a trip to Workington.

The 27-year-old forward from Abertridwr has completed his six-month ban for twice punching Lance Hohaia in the opening moments of October's Grand-Final at Old Trafford.

Flower, a former Bedwas and Dragons academy back row forward in union, stunned the 76,000 crowd with his attack on the St Helens half-back and, after becoming the first player to be sent off in a Grand Final, was handed the second heaviest suspension in the history of Super League.

Instead of sending the player to make his return from his lengthy lay-off with partnership club Workington, Wigan coach Shaun Wane said that he will throw Flower straight back in against Warrington at the DW Stadium on Thursday and has warned him not to hold back.

"I've told him if I see any signs of that, he'll be going to Workington," Wane said. "I'm hoping he's going to be really, really aggressive.

"If he holds anything back he won't be playing against Wakefield the week after."

Flower has been in full training since recovering from knee surgery during the early stages of his ban and is set to start off on the bench at the DW Stadium.

"I hope he's a bit more aggressive and a bit stronger and a bit fitter," Wane said.

"He's without a doubt one of the best front rowers in the comp and that's we want. We need a Ben Flower in our team. He's dynamic, just what I like, he runs the ball hard and he's uncompromising. He's perfect for me.

"I'll be telling him to go as hard as he can, run as hard as you can, hit as hard as you can and just carry on from where you left off because bear in mind in the play-off games last year he was one of the best. I want him back to that form as quickly as possible."

Flower, who was fined 50 per cent of his wages during his ban and has been coaching local juniors as part of the punishment handed out by his club, is ready to "rip in", according to Wane.

"He's in a very, very good state of mind," the coach said. "He's very strong and he's trained really well. I can't wait to put him in. I'm really looking forward to seeing him go on after about 20 minutes. I've been itching for this game to come and he'll get a chance.

"He just wants to get back to what he's paid to do, playing rugby and being one of the best middles in the competition.

"He's had a long pre-season and he's dying to rip in.

"He's had a couple of operations that he needed to get fixed up. He's got everything out of his system and he's looking in really good nick. He's fit and ready and feeling really aggressive and intense. He's looking forward to Thursday now.

"He did what he did and he's more than served his sentence. It's dragged on a bit for me. I'm bored of it.

I couldn't believe it (the reaction), I was quite shocked to be honest. To be still talking about it months after is amazing.

"It was unfortunate because he let his team-mates down and we lost a Grand Final through it. If he had stayed on, we would have won by 30. Everybody knows that.

"That in itself is a lot for a player to carry and then you put months of a ban on it and it's a tough one for him.

"But he's a strong character, he's from a good family and is with a club that really support their own.

"I'm very close to him and very protective of him. I just want him to be left alone and get on as a player now."

Meanwhile, Wane has denied that Wigan are close to finalising the return of England full-back Sam Tomkins.

The former Man of Steel has been granted a release from the last year of his three-year contract with New Zealand Warriors after becoming homesick and it is thought he is heading back to the Warriors, who retained first option on his services.

"He's one of the best players in the world and we're always interested in the best players but I've been told nothing," Wane said.

"Unless I get a phone call today telling me anything different, I'm just cracking on preparing for Warrington and Wakefield."