Dragons v Bulls: Teams
Les Catalans welcome back Jason Ryles for the visit of winless Bradford to Perpignan on Saturday.
Last Updated: 21/03/09 1:07pm
Les Catalans and Bradford will be looking to get their campaigns back on track when they clash in Perpignan on Saturday.
Both sides reached the play-offs last year but so far in 2009 have managed just one Super League victory between them.
The Dragons boast the only success having beaten the Warrington Wolves on their travels and they have so far struggled in front of their fans.
Having been something of a home fortress in 2008, the Stade Gilbert Brutus has been a happy hunting ground for visiting teams this season.
Both Castleford and Huddersfield have been successful on their trips to France, meaning Kevin Walters' side find themselves currently outside the top eight.
However, they have been given a major boost this week with the return of Australian Jason Ryles from injury.
As well as the fit-again forward, Walters has also called up Vincent Duport and Kane Bentley into his 19-man squad for the first time this year.
Pressure
With just a single point picked up from the first five games, Bradford coach Steve McNamara will be desperate to return to winning ways.
A home loss to Hull FC last time out has done little to ease the pressure on the Bulls boss, though he is remaining upbeat.
"You have difficult patches as a coach even when you are winning," he said.
"There are still issues to and problems to solve and at this time we are just not where we want to be on the league ladder and have not got the start we wanted but there are a whole lot of positives for us."
Bradford's cause is not helped by injuries - David Solomona, Wayne Godwin and Tame Tupou are all ruled out.
Dave Halley, recalled from a loan stint at Wakefield, is the only new addition to the squad. The winger replaces Matt James, who has joined Halifax on a temporary deal.
Les Catalans squad: Baile, Bell, Bentley, Bird, Bosc, Casty, Duport, Elima, Fakir, Ferriol, Gossard, Greenshields, Guisset, McGuire, Mounis, Pelo, Perry, Ryles, Touxagas.
Bradford squad: Cook, Langley, Sheriffe, Burgess, Sykes, Scruton, Menzies, Newton, Crookes, Deacon, Halley, Morrison, Lynch, Kopczak, Jeffries, Tadulala, Worrincy, Platt, Nero.