Duo return as Bulls intend to take Wolves to the limit

The West Yorkshire club have been given little chance of overcoming Warrington – back-to-back winners in 2009 and 2010 – in the televised fourth round tie.

However, Bradford have performed admirably during their recent off-field cash problems and battled hard against Super League leaders Huddersfield Giants before succumbing 20-6 on Sunday.

Scrum-half Luke Gale and full-back Brett Kearney are nearing fitness and could distinctly improve the visitors’ attack, while joint-captain Heath L’Estrange returns from a two-game ban.

“I am hoping both Luke and Brett will be able to play this week,” admitted Potter, who has ruled out Adrian Purtell (hamstring).

“We will leave it until the last minute with their injuries but to see our full-back and half-back return would be a big bonus for us.

“They are pretty important positions and with Heath back, too, we know we are a side that could trouble Warrington.

“They will be confident they can roll Bradford over but I don’t think that’s on our minds.”

England Knights international Gale has been sidelined for the last two months due to an ankle injury but Potter will boldly thrust him straight in if he comes through today’s final training session with no negative reaction.

Gale, 23, had only played three games since joining from Harlequins before injury struck but showed enough in that limited time with his pace, handling craft and kicking ability to suggest he could be the answer to Bradford’s long-term scrum-half problem.

Australian Kearney, meanwhile, is one of their most consistently reliable performers and Potter is confident his side can cause Warrington problems of their own.

The days of Bradford – winners in 2000 and 2003 – being favourites in such contests have passed in light of their recent failure to reach the play-offs but Potter says his side relish being written off.

“We have probably been in that mode because we’ve come from a low point in the last couple of seasons,” he added.

“It’s probably good to be the underdog and the up-and-coming team but we took a bit of a step backwards last week.

“We want to take a step forward now and it would be great result for the club if we could win.

“It’s a knock-out competition and those 80 minutes can be very long if you get on the wrong side of the scoreboard early.

“But if you are thereabouts for most of it then those 80 minutes can seem very short for the side that is expected to win.

“That’s the beauty of the Challenge Cup. Warrington are a big challenge for us but we are looking forward to it.”