PHIL Veivers is wary of being on the wrong end of a Dewsbury backlash when the Bulls hit Cumbria tomorrow.

The former Odsal assistant knows his old club will be keen to settle the score following last week’s surprise upset to the Rams.

The Workington coach said: “I watched their game against Dewsbury and they had a pretty awful day with the ball in hand. But defensively they were still strong.

“They will come here with renewed vigour trying to impress their new coach, which won’t make our job any easier.

“If a top team comes up with an unexpected loss against a lower team, which is what happened to them, then their players will strive to rectify the wrongs of the week before.”

Workington sit bottom of the table with only two wins all season against fellow strugglers Oldham and Sheffield.

The Cumbrians were beaten 50-28 at second-placed London last week with Veivers admitting they “terrorised” themselves with a very costly period leading up to half-time.

Workington also shipped a half-century of points at Odsal in April but Veivers insists they will be up for another physical challenge.

He said: “Every game is tough and the Bradford one is no different. They have a very big bunch of forwards.

“It has shown this season that on the day any team can beat any other team and some of the scores have shown that.”

Workington’s options will be boosted by the expected return of Brett Phillips, Kris Coward and Perry Whiteley. Phillips and Whiteley both missed the London loss and Coward has been ill.

“We had a thrown together team (last week) in some ways because of injury and lads were having to play out of position,” added Veivers.

“But apart from 20 minutes in the first half I thought we matched, if not bettered, a top-four team.

“That is the frustrating thing that we can do it for part of the game but can’t seem to for the full 80 minutes.”