ADAM Sidlow cannot wait to run out against Sheffield this weekend after admitting: “I don’t like not playing.”

The influential prop has not featured since the recent 36-36 draw with Leigh after being rested for the defeat at Halifax in the Bulls’ last outing.

The three-week break has left Sidlow reinvigorated as he bids to return to action and help Bradford get their Super 8s campaign off to a winning start.

Sidlow said: “I have been playing long minutes this season, so Jimmy decided to give me a rest at Halifax and see what the other boys could do.

“It was good to get a rest for your body but I don’t enjoy missing rugby.

“I nearly popped an artery in my neck when I was shouting on the side of the pitch at The Shay!

“I don’t like not playing and I want to play as many games as possible and help us get back to Super League because that’s where Bradford should be.”

Sidlow and Paul Clough have been the mainstay of the Bulls’ pack this season as the two regular starting props who play big minutes.

That has left Dan Fleming, Steve Crossley and Epalahame Lauaki vying for a bench spot but Sidlow does not take his place for granted.

He said: “We can’t result on our laurels and you’ve got to play well each and every week.

“That’s what I aspire to do and hopefully I can cement my place in the side and play well against Super League and Championship sides in the next few weeks.”

Sidlow accepts the Bulls must engineer a major upturn in form as they seek to clinch a return to the big time.

The former Salford man, who recently signed a two-year contract extension, was a frustrated spectator at Halifax as the Bulls made numerous handling errors.

Sidlow said: “We’ve got to stop doing that to ourselves because we can’t keep giving teams starts and then be forced to play catch-up in the Super 8s.

“We were carrying out the game-plan at Halifax but it didn’t seem like it worked.

“The conditions took their toll and Halifax gave it to us in defence, causing us to drop a few balls which had a knock-on effect on our attack.

“We can’t afford that to happen again but the boys showed some character in the second half and had a good dig.

“But the regular season is done and dusted and this is what everyone has been waiting for.

“We’ve not finished where we wanted to but we will be raring to go and working as hard as we can on and off the field to get into Super League.

“I’m going to be training the house down with the rest of the boys and I know what we need to do against these teams.

“We can’t do some of the stuff we have been doing in recent games against the Super League sides because we will get blown away.”

Sidlow believes the Bulls’ passionate army of supporters can help give his team a huge boost in the Super 8s.

“Even when we have been away this season, it has felt like we have been at home,” he said.

“The crowd is really behind us and it feels like another man. It gives us such a boost.”