Super League preview: Castleford Tigers v Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls travel to Castleford on Sunday knowing only victory over the Tigers will do to keep play-off hopes alive.
Last Updated: 18/08/13 2:50pm
The Bulls currently sit ninth in the standings with three games left to play while the Tigers are out of the running in 12th.
Francis Cummins' Bradford will be looking to regain form having lost their previous two outings while the hosts are looking to complete back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Tigers head coach Daryl Powell has left his squad unchanged following their 42-38 triumph against Widnes at the Stobart Stadium last weekend.
Crucial
Hooker Craig Huby and the versatile Rangi Chase have both shrugged off knocks sustained against the Vikings last Sunday while Daryl Clark also features despite struggling in training this week.
As the season draws to a close Powell knows his men will have to find their best if they are to finish with a flurry of four victories.
"They've got some good things going for them and we recognise that we're going to have to play really well to beat them," he told the club's official site.
"They're above us in the table and are one of the teams that we want to chip away at, so it's a crucial game from that point of view."
Meanwhile Cummins has made two changes to the side which narrowly missed out against Catalan Dragons at Odsal last weekend.
Improved
Centre Matty Blythe returns to the Bulls squad for the first time since July with Heath L'Estrange out for the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery.
The only other change sees hooker Adam O'Brien join the travelling party, meaning there is no place for centre Sam Wood.
There are six points between the Bulls and the sixth-placed Dragons and Cummins knows there are stern challenges ahead if they are to make the play-offs.
"They are a much improved team under Darryl and they got a good win at the weekend," he told the club's official site. "Their defence has improved and we know they are a team that can score tries.
"They have some players who can really play in their side, so we know we have to defend well because if we stand off and let them play then they will do what they have done to a lot of teams this year and that is score points."
Tigers: Owen, Carney, Shenton, Dixon, Chase, Ellis, Clark, Huby, Hauraki, Millington, Milner, Massey, Thompson, Tansey, Fleming, Clare, Martin, Boyle, Channing.
Bulls: Donaldson, Langley, Walker, Kearney, Gale, Kear, Scruton, O'Brien, Blythe, Platt, Lulia, Purtell, Olbison, Manuokafoa, Addy, Foster, Diskin, Sammut, Evans.