Stefan Maierhofer is hoping the hernia operation he is undergoing will ensure he can return at 100 per cent fitness and ready for another tilt at a Wolves first team spot.

The Austrian striker travels to Munich today and will undergo an operation tomorrow before returning home for what is expected to be a quick rehabilitation process lasting an estimated ten days.

It's a similar process to that undergone by Kevin Doyle in pre-season.

 "I spoke with Kempy (Steve Kemp) and with other players like Doyler who have had the same problem," he says.

"It's a quick operation, I go for a check today, have the operation tomorrow and fly back on the evening.

"I hope ten days later I'll be back in normal training and available to play.

"After the Bolton game I had a problem with a little pain in my groin.

"It didn't really disappear and so I spoke with Kempy and the Doctor and we decided to go and get it seen to in Munich.

"It was one of those things where you try and keep working for three or four weeks but when it doesn't improve you need to get something done."

And Stefan is in positive mood ahead of hopefully curing the niggles which have affected his attempts to break into the Wolves line-up and do his bit for the team over the remaining months of the season.

"I'm thinking positively and that once I get the operation done I can come back 100 per cent and do my bit for the team," he added.

"I'll miss the Wigan game and the FA Cup game and hopefully can be back in the frame maybe to try and be on the bench for Liverpool.

"It's important to be able to play without any pain to give a good account of myself.

"I want to be able to give my best and be an aggressive player and use my physical strength and show the fans what I can do.

"We'll still have 15 or 16 games left and I want to be available to help the team.

The team are in a good position at the moment with some important games coming up.

"If we can get a win or two on the board it will make our position even better."