Bulls v Dragons: Teams
Bradford co-captain Heath L'Estrange is set to return for the first time since suffering last June against Catalans Dragons.
Last Updated: 03/02/12 3:39pm
Bradford co-captain Heath L'Estrange is set to return for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury last June when the Bulls take on Catalans Dragons on Sunday.
Matt Diskin, the other hooker who will share the captaincy duties during the season, will also play after recovering from a calf injury he suffered in a pre-season clash with Hull.
The Bulls could give debuts to five of their new signings when they face the Dragons at Odsal.
Adrian Purtell, Elliot Kear, Jarrod Sammut, Luke Gale and Phil Joseph have all been named in the 19-man squad for the clash by coach Mick Potter.
Two new signings - Keith Lulia and Manase Manuokafoa - are ruled out through injury, as are second-rower Tom Olbison and France captain Olivier Elima.
Karl Pryce will also miss the clash with a hamstring strain.
Catalans have been forced to deal with a selection crisis before the season has even started with injuries to Damien Blanch, Cyril Stacul, Frederic Vaccari and Joseph Negre leaving them without a specialist winger.
Clint Greenshields and Vincent Duport are set to line-up out wide against the Bulls.
New signings Leon Pryce, a former Bradford favourite, and Louis Anderson are included in Trent Robinson's 19-man squad along with Ben Fisher, who joined on loan from Batley last week.
Fisher will provide cover for Ian Henderson as both Eloi Pelissier and captain Gregory Mounis are also on the injury list.
Bradford squad: Kear, Diskin, Donaldson, Bateman, L'Estrange, Burgess, Crookes, Gale, Hargreaves, Sammut, Kearney, Kopczak, Purtell, Langley, Scruton, Sibbit, Joseph, Jeffries, Walker.
Catalans squad: Greenshields, Pryce, Sa, Bosc, Dureau, Ferriol, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Anderson, Raguin, Gossard, Millard, Fakir, Paea, Baitieri, Dupport, Fisher, Barthau.