JOHN Kear expects the Bulls to shoot out the blocks at London today after last week’s painful wake-up call.

His side hit the long road to face the Skolars looking for an instant pick-me-up following their Odsal agony against York.

London’s New River Stadium is also used for athletics and Kear is demanding not to see another standing start from the Bulls.

Having handed title rivals York a 24-point buffer before getting going, the coach hopes his team will be at it from the whistle.

“We’ve asked the questions and tried to remedy things,” said Kear about the recent trend of conceding early scores. “The only way we’ll know if we’ve got to the bottom of it is if we start well this week.

“We’re our own worst enemies. You can’t give a team like York a 24-point start and that’s what we did.

“It was frustrating. The players are human beings and, just like with the fans, there’s been a lot of disappointment.

“The fact is they’ve just got to overcome it and hopefully be better for it.

“We’re confident. There has got to be a response – we haven’t got time for there not to be. We’ve got to get straight back out there, play well and secure the points.”

Castleford loan signing Tuoyo Egodo comes straight into the backline after his capture until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old has already been on the winning side at London this year, scoring a try in Newcastle’s 60-16 triumph in round two.

Egodo’s arrival, and that of Jy Hitchcox, were followed yesterday by the deadline-day capture of verstile Toronto Woolfpack back Jonny Pownall for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old, who spent five years at Leigh before joining the Wolfpack, has recently been on loan at Barrow in the Championship.

Kear said: “We are really pleased to welcome him until the end of the season.

“We realised that through injuries we were lacking in the three-quarters, as well as competition for places.

“He suits us down to a tee as he can play fullback, wing or centre and obviously his proven experience at the upper end of the Championship is an added bonus.”

With the Bulls heading into the crucial final eight games of the seaso,n, Kear added: “We have been very light in the three quarters and felt that we could improve our squad by bringing in the new players.

“We’re struggling at the minute with injuries to Ash Gibson, James Laithwaite and obviously Joe Keyes. They’ve come at the wrong time but you’ve got to work through it.”

Kear has thrown down the gauntlet for the Bulls to deliver a perfect finish to the season to keep York at bay for the one automatic promotion spot.

But he insists they must be switched on against a dangerous Skolars side.

Kear said: “They gave York a bit of a scare two weeks ago and they weren’t far off at Whitehaven so they have some good players there.

“The young kid (James) Meadows, the half-back on dual reg from London Broncos, is a really good young prospect.

“They’ve got Mike Bishay who played a full back, normally half back, they’ve got (Neil) Thorman – some very good players indeed.

“We know London are very direct and play a forward-oriented game. We’ve got to match and better that while playing our own type of football.”