Injury-jinxed Lesley Vainikolo is out of tonight's game in France - but Brian Noble insists his star player will shine again soon.

The prolific winger is left out of the Super League showdown against Catalans Dragons, with Academy flier Andy Smith getting the shot he has been craving.

Vainikolo didn't travel with the squad on Thursday, instead staying in Bradford to continue his rehabilitation on a persistent knee injury, but his absence will cast

further doubt on his long-term fitness.

The problem suffered in pre-season in Lanzarote refuses to go away.

After battling to get fit for the World Club Challenge, the big Kiwi suffered a reaction and missed the opening two rounds of league action.

He returned for the win over Salford City Reds last Friday and it was hoped the New Zealand international would now kick on.

But Vainikolo, 26, is still not 100 per cent happy, sparking fears he may have to go under the knife for the second time in four months.

However, despite another false start in the player's comeback, Noble says there are no dramas and he is merely being careful with his prime asset. "Les doesn't need surgery," he said. "We're not worried about it at all and we know exactly what the problem is. But we need to give him some space to get it right.

"He needs two weeks, solid, strengthening his knee and we're really

confident he'll be okay after that.

"With the travelling to Perpignan, he would not have been able to do rehab for four days and that could have put him back another week.

"We've not given him the opportunity of seven or eight full days' rehab yet but, by not coming here, he is now

getting that."

Noble has had to get used to being without his side's main strike weapon but is adamant these preventative

measures will ensure Vainikolo fires for the majority of the season.

He is also cautious the player himself is aware he isn't at his destructive best.

"We're in danger of ruining Les's confidence as he knows there are things he hasn't been able to do in matches so far," added Noble.

"It's frustrating that he hasn't been able to play week in, week out but we're looking after him, especially bearing in mind we've got Hull, Saints and Wigan coming up in the next three rounds."

His absence means the powerful Smith gets a dream chance to ignite his Bulls career.

He has made just eight first-team starts since debuting in 2004 and was overlooked when Vainikolo was sidelined earlier this year, with Noble favouring Karl Pryce.

But, after racing in for a hat-trick against Wakefield and bagging an incredible seven tries against Harlequins for the senior academy, Smith, 21, has jumped to the front of the queue.

"He's got ten tries in two games with the 21s and you've got to give people a chance who show that desire and attitude," said Noble about the player who recently turned down a move to Castleford to fight for his place.