Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos: Bulls are braced for physical battle with the Rhinos

The accepted landscape has certainly changed ahead of the traditional Easter Thursday meeting of the West Yorkshire neighbours.

While Bradford do hope to attract their biggest attendance at Odsal for some years, with upwards of 18,000 expected this evening, the customary brashness and confidence of clubs who for so long dominated Super League is clearly missing.

Both enter the fixture desperately hoping to avoid a third successive defeat, Potter’s Bulls reeling from an embarrassing 56-10 annihilation at Salford City Reds and fallen champions Leeds given an equally searching lesson by Huddersfield Giants, seen by many as the county’s next major force.

For Potter, his focus is on swiftly remedying the mistakes from the Bulls’ weekend humiliation.

They dropped the ball a startling 16 times at The Willows but the positive for the Australian is that he knows such errors were elementary and if they are eradicated, his team – who should have defeated Leeds on the opening day – are more than capable of causing damage of their own.

“We conceded 12 penalties as well so gave Salford 28 extra sets,” he said.

“That’s not on and we can’t afford to be doing that against any team but they were fundamental things we can change instantly.

“Some things were out of character for some of our players – the high shots, hand on the ball and decisions we made with the ball.

“We know we can do better. We’ve only had five days and not long to practice but we have been able to reflect and we can turn it around.”

Tenth-placed Bradford could move up into the play-off spots and usurp Leeds from seventh place if they win this evening although they have only succeeded once in eight meetings with their rivals at Odsal since 2004.

Potter does take more comfort from their previous fixture with the Rhinos, even though it ended in a controversial 32-28 defeat.

They led 28-10 in Cardiff with 17 minutes to go and should have been further ahead when Chev Walker had a perfectly legitimate try ruled out by the video referee.

Ben Jones-Bishop, who finished with a dramatic penalty-try hat-trick in the 77th minute, spearheaded Leeds’s fightback and Potter recalled: “It does seem a long time ago now.

“The last 20 minutes is probably another memory (like Salford) we don’t want to remember.

“I didn’t mind the first 60. We came up with some really clever plays and credit to the players who executed very well.

“But we need to play for 80 minutes. You probably have to credit Leeds too – they did some very good stuff late in that game – and it’s just going to make this one even more interesting.

“We’re both coming off back-to-back losses, both our form is a little out and we’ve each got injuries.

“But the weather should be good, hopefully there’ll be a fantastic crowd and the recipe is all set for a great local derby.

“It could make for a real entertaining game or it could make for a real dour one but one thing for sure, it will be heavy contact.

“Both teams will be trying to win the territory battle and make sure they physically start to win because it gives you a leg in to the scoreboard.

“Both are down on confidence and Leeds have had more than their fair share of injuries but they’ll be difficult regardless.

“They’ve got some good players who do play and can off-load. We’ll have to do better than that at the weekend to counter them.”

Bradford should be bolstered by the return from injury of centre/wing partnership Michael Platt and Patrick Ah Van while Tom Burgess will celebrate his 19th birthday by playing against older brother Luke for the first time.

The teenage prop, who made his Super League debut three weeks ago, is also the younger sibling of ex-Bulls and current England forward Sam who now plays for South Sydney with Tom’s twin George.

“It will be very weird playing Luke,” he said.

“I’ve always been looking on when Sam and Luke played each other so it’s going to be a bit surreal actually being involved in that.

“With me being the younger brother, Luke has always been a bit of a father figure to be honest.

“We’ve definitely become closer since George moved over to Australia. It always used to be me and George who did things together, now it’s me and Luke.

“He bought a house with Sam and because he’s over in Australia, Luke’s decided to rent that out and move back home with me.

“He’s all right to live with but he’s bossy. He’s also a bit of a clean freak. I’ll tidy up when I have to but he tidies up every hour – so I might leave a bit more stuff out for him on Thursday.”

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have signed Batley Bulldogs scrum-half Gareth Moore on a two-year contract.

The Scotland international, 21, helped Batley win the Northern Rail Cup last season when he was also named joint-Championship Young Player of the Year.

Captain Glenn Morrison and Aaron Murphy return from injury against Castleford tomorrow and Moore’s former club Batley start life without him at Dewsbury in a Championship game tonight.

Halifax visit Widnes Vikings still awaiting their first league win of the season while Exiles coach Brian McClennan has picked St Helens’ Kiwi forward Tony Puletua as his latest selection for the June 10 game with England.