Love him or loathe him, and most opposition fans do the latter, there's no doubt Jimmy Lowes continues to be one of the most influential figures in Super League.

When Wigan ended the Bulls' 31-game winning sequence their tactics were clear to see. Stop Lowes and you greatly reduce the leaders' overall effectiveness.

It certainly worked that night but Lowes relishes the challenge and the Bulls can be assured that their battle-hardened hooker will be ready to mix it with the best come play-off time.

There are some tough hurdles to overcome first, though, with former colleagues Steve McNamara and Glen Tomlinson out to prove a point at Belle Vue tomorrow.

Another ex-Bull, Warren Jowitt, is serving a one-match suspension.

"I'll be looking to take care of Steve Mac early in the game," says Lowes with a smile.

"I'll be intimidating him right from the start!"

But despite the joking, he has a healthy respect for both McNamara and Tomlinson.

"They are quality playmakers, but they will miss Warren," he says. "His absence is a plus for us."

New Wildcats coach Tony Kemp is also someone Lowes knows well from their days together at Leeds.

"He always looked as if he would make a good coach and has turned them round.

"They are a tough side to break down especially at home and we are expecting a tough game," adds Lowes who needs just nine points for a career total of 500.

The Bulls go into the game on the back of a half-century win over Hull which Lowes says went according to plan despite some early problems.

"It turned out to be a good victory in the end, but it was very tough for the opening quarter of the game," he said.

"We expected them to come out well fired up. We had a game plan to wear them down and that is just what we did.

"We had a difficult game at the Boulevard when they took a point off us.

"We were very happy to set the record straight and run away with the game in the end.

"It must have been difficult for Hull with them having so many injuries. They looked all right when they had their starting 13 on the field but they had a lot of youngsters on the bench and that is difficult.

"It is always good to blood youngsters in a home match but sometimes when it is an away game, particularly at a place like Odsal, it can be a bit intimidating."