Bulls coach Francis Cummins admits it feels like “an eternity” since he had so many players vying for selection.

Cummins has seen his squad ravaged by departures and injury all season but five men are poised to return in Sunday’s crucial home clash with Wakefield.

Skipper Matt Diskin and fellow veteran Chev Walker look certain to feature after being rested during last week’s defeat at Catalan Dragons.

Jamal Fakir, Dale Ferguson and Matty Blythe are also in contention to face the Wildcats.

Cummins said: “To see that handful of lads back in full training has been good. Provided they are all okay, then we could be not far off full strength this weekend.

“It’s what we’ve needed as well. We’ve had to toil long and hard and we’ve had young lads having to jump in and players playing out of position.

“It’s pleasing to have a decent-sized squad to choose from because it seems like an eternity since we had that.”

Diskin and Walker have played through the pain barrier in recent weeks and Cummins saluted the former Leeds pair.

“I must pay tribute to them because they have been playing with knocks for the last six weeks that would keep most people out,” he said.

“They have been finding a way to play the game for us because we’ve only had one or two middles.

“It came to a point where we had to give them a rest so, because of the travel involved, we had to give them last weekend off.

“That has hopefully done them good and should allow them to kick on for the rest of the season.”

Blythe, Ferguson and Fakir have overcome knee, back and hand injuries respectively and their return will see Cummins shuffle his pack.

“Fakir, Blythe and Ferguson have all been training in and out for the last week or so,” said the Bulls chief.

“At the end of last week, Dale was telling me he was ready to play but it was more that he needed a good week’s training behind him.

“Dale looked great today and Blythey is in full training, plus Ja-ja is also looking good.”

Such has been the crippling injury crisis at Bradford this season that at times Cummins has barely had a dozen fit players able to train.

“It has been difficult these past weeks when we’ve had eight players training one week and 11 the next,” he said.

“It’s difficult but you find out about people in those kind of circumstances. At the same time, it will be nice to get players back in positions that they excel in.”

Cummins said the Bulls were hopeful of extending Antonio Kaufusi’s initial four-match loan, which expires after this weekend.

“We are trying our best because we want Antonio to stay here as long as possible,” he said.

“From the minute he came through the door on the Thursday before the Warrington game, he gave us a massive lift.

“It’s like he has been here for years. He’s settled in really well and been one of our leaders, so we would love to keep him.”