LEE Gaskell scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s win over Sheffield but insists: The best is yet to come.

The Bulls star had missed the previous eight matches due to a broken jaw and was quickly back into the groove.

Ahead of tomorrow’s crunch trip to Wakefield, Gaskell is aiming to take another step towards full fitness.

He said: “It was good to be back out there against Sheffield and I enjoyed it.

“I expected to be a bit rusty with not having played for a while and was not quite up to scratch with my match fitness.

“But I surprised myself and didn’t think I was far off to be honest. I think that game will hold me in good stead and I’m looking forward to Wakefield now.

“Obviously coming back from nine weeks out you are bound to be a bit rusty. The boys helped me out and put me in good positions.

“In the first half, I felt good but the second half was a bit tougher. I was probably about 60 per cent and was a bit rusty with some of my passes, but the best is definitely yet to come.”

Gaskell combined effectively with Danny Addy at half-back and said: “Danny is a player of Super League quality and has been excellent for Bradford for a number of years now.

“We’ve had a few injuries and he can slot in and do a very good job. He’s a good character to have around the team as well.”

Dane Nielsen is poised to make his debut tomorrow while James Clare is expected to start in place of the injured Jake Mullaney at full back.

Adam Henry is left out but Jean-Philippe Baile has been recalled to the 19-man squad and former Wakefield scrum half Harry Siejka has also been included.

Gaskell, meanwhile, believes the Bulls’ Super 8s rivals will start to panic if they lose again this weekend.

Brian Smith’s Wildcats lost at Salford and Leigh let slip a commanding 24-6 interval lead to lose at home to Hull KR.

Gaskell reckons teams will begin to feel the heat if they lose two on the bounce.

Wakefield are under pressure to get their campaign up and running against the Bulls while Leigh face a trip to Salford on Sunday.

Gaskell said: “Wakefield are a Super League side and we know it’s going to be tough because they ran Salford close last weekend.

“But getting two wins from these first two games would be massive for us and I’ve always said that.

“If we can get two wins on the board then we know it sets us up nicely and we can take confidence from that.

“It also puts pressure on other teams then because Leigh have got to go to Salford this weekend and that will be a tough ask for them.

“They could be panicking if they don’t get the win there and we could be on a high.”

ROSS HEPPENSTALL