WORLD Club Series planning is reaching a conclusion, with Warrington Wolves looking set to host Brisbane Broncos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Broncos, fifth place finishers on the NRL ladder in 2016, would likely head to The Wire on the weekend of February 17 to 19 at the start of the iconic Australian club’s 30th year since formation.

Wayne Bennett, Broncos and England head coach, has declared his club’s interest in participating in a series, first introduced in 2014, between Super League and NRL clubs that fits around champions of both hemispheres colliding in the World Club Challenge.

Wigan Warriors are therefore to host NRL top dogs Cronulla Sharks while Wolves, as this year’s League Leaders’ Shield winners, are next in line for a match-up.

The previous two series featured three matches, with Challenge Cup winners Hull FC hoping they too will be facing Australian opposition in February but invitations to NRL clubs have been reportedly met with reluctance due to clashing with pre-season preparations Down Under.

Wolves and Brisbane have never faced each other before and The Wire chiefs would see their visit as a huge draw for the town’s rugby league followers.

Links include Brisbane, one of Wolves prop Ashton Sims’ former clubs, having ex-Wire and Australia Test star Allan Langer among their coaching staff.

Broncos’ squad is packed with international talent, including this year’s selections for the Ladbrokes Four Nations – Darius Boyd, Sam Thaiday and Matt Gillett (Australia); Adam Blair, Jordan Kahu (New Zealand).

They are guided by another Kangaroos international Ben Hunt and stand off Anthony Milford, a star of the Samoa side that appeared at The Halliwell Jones Stadium against New Zealand in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Brisbane, victors over Wigan in each of the past two series and currently being linked with a move to sign Benji Marshall, have been world club champions twice.

Marshall was in the St George Illawarra Dragons side that beat Wolves 18-12 in the 2015 series.