Spider ID please

I think it may be a wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula). Including its legs outsretched as pictured it is about 4 inches or 100mm long.

First three images taken with K20D + AF160FC ring flash + Sigma 180mm 1:3.5 EX DG Macro lens and the rest taken with SMCP-FA 100mm 1:2.8 Macro.

WOW. #2 is fantastic.

Don't know the i.d.

Lycosidae are very difficult to distinguish to the species level. Probably the best site on the web for spider identification is here:
http://www.jorgenlissner.dk/Lycosidae.aspx

Here's another taken from a more head-on aspect which shows one of its pedipalps extended forward more than in the other images. I think this shows it to be a male, so we've called him Boris.

I had seen that site Jonathan, but not the page you linked to. Thanks for that.

Certainly the body shape is very similar even if the markings are not identical. The eye positions are very similar too.

I'm pretty sure they are relatively harmless to humans and if they do bite, the venom is weak. That said, I'm not inviting him in for tea, neither will I offer him my hand in friendship. I am quite happy to leave him where he is, outside, and he can eat as many crickets as he can catch.