Bradford Bulls' injury crisis has made Kurt Haggerty's team selection for Sunday's derby at Leeds Rhinos unusually straightforward after he was left with just 18 fit players.

The Bulls have been beset by injuries throughout their first season back in Super League and there are no signs of those issues easing in the closing months.

Waqa Blake is set to sit out the rest of the campaign with a knee problem, while Mitch Souter picked up a season-ending injury playing for the reserves.

Eribe Doro, Ed Chamberlain and Sam Hallas have already been told they will not play again this year.

Dan Russell, meanwhile, misses out this week with a nasty eye injury, leaving Bradford down to the bare bones for their first competitive game at Headingley since 2014.

When asked how difficult it was to select his team for the game, Haggerty replied: "It's not been too difficult – who's left will play.

"Dan won’t play due to an issue with his eye. If he trains and does too much, there's a chance of a bleed behind the eye which could impact him losing his sight.

"If he gets specialist clearance, he could be clear to play the following week. It's all touch and go.

Kurt Haggerty is down to the bare bones for the latest derby clash with Leeds. (Photo: John Clifton/SWpix.com)

placeholder image — Kurt Haggerty is down to the bare bones for the latest derby clash with Leeds. (Photo: John Clifton/SWpix.com)

"We prep to win every game. We've still got enough quality out there to win games. We just need probably 10 or 15 per cent more from every player to get us over the line."

Loghan Lewis remains unavailable due to a knee issue, while Cam Bate's loan spell at Salford RLFC has been cut short by injury.

Former Leeds hooker Andy Ackers is a major doubt with a thumb problem.

"We're hoping it all settles," said Haggerty, whose side lost 50-16 to the Rhinos only three rounds ago at Magic Weekend. "But if I had to pick the team for this week today (Wednesday), he wouldn't play."

Dan Russell sustained a gruesome eye injury against Wakefield. (Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

Bradford sit 12th in the table with eight rounds remaining but their comeback season will perhaps be best remembered for their injury crisis.

Haggerty is struggling to identify a pattern that could help the club avoid a similar situation in the future.

"I've never known a situation like this before," he said. "And it's hard to put your finger on a reason.

"Cam Bate has done it playing for Salford on loan, Mitch has done it playing for the reserves and Waqa has been playing on one leg for the last two weeks – the injuries have been so sporadic and different that it's hard to put your finger on it.

Andy Ackers is a doubt to face his former club. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

"If I knew, I'd probably be a very rich man right now."

Haggerty has been keen to find solutions from within but he is exploring the loan market to help the Bulls make it to the end of the season.

"We have been looking," he added.

"I've tried my best not to. This week there will probably be nobody coming in so we'll go with what we've got.

"We'd be foolish not to look. We've got seven games left after this weekend and if we lose any players this weekend or down the line, we could be in a world of pain. We're down to our last fit 18."