ADAM O'Brien is dreaming of the Bulls rekindling their rivalry with Leeds in the Middle 8s.

Bradford head into tomorrow's penultimate regular-season clash at home to Oldham knowing there is absolutely no margin for error.

Rohan Smith's side closed the gap on the top four to one point last week after battering Whitehaven and are confident of making the cut.

There is also the added incentive of fallen Super League champions Leeds Rhinos waiting for them in the Middle 8s.

Hooker O'Brien believes that gives an extra edge to the nerve-shredding climax to the Championship campaign.

"You just can't believe Leeds have finished bottom of the table after being treble champions last year," he said.

"They are going to be in the Middle 8s and if we can get there as well, it's going to be really special to come up against them again. It's been too long and it would be brilliant for both clubs to play against each other.

"But we need to concentrate on winning these last two games and hope that other results go our way. Then we can look forward to playing the Super League teams."

Dale Ferguson, Epalahame Luaki and Tom Olbison are all back in the 19-man squad, while Lee Gaskell and Mitch Clark should be ready for the first week of the qualifiers.

Defeats for top-four rivals Halifax and Batley last week boosted the Bulls' chances but O'Brien insists the only focus must be on getting their own job done.

Scott Naylor's Oldham side have won all three games since their 48-4 loss to Bradford at Stalybridge last month.

O'Brien said: "We put in a good team performance last week and put a lot of points on Whitehaven. Then to come off and find out the other two teams had lost brought us a little bit closer.

"Hopefully we can do the same against Oldham and then if someone else slips up, we'll be back in there again going into the final week and the Featherstone game.

"This back-end of the season is very big for us. Some people like the Middle 8s, others are against it and just want to go back to normal promotion and relegation.

"The way the season has been for us, it's all on the final few games now. They are massive for the club.

"If you get in the Middle 8s, you'll be playing against Huddersfield, Leeds and teams like that. If we could play the home derby with Leeds again, that would be a massive buzz for everyone.

"But we've got to focus on our two games to finish the year and see what the other teams come through with. We need to put the points on the board and leave the rest to what they do."

O'Brien can remember the pain of October's agonising loss to Wakefield, when the promotion ticket back to the Super League was snatched away in the closing minutes.

Having got so close, he knows the intensity that the Middle 8s can bring.

"Getting in that Million Pound Game and losing out in the last couple of minutes was a massive blow for the club," said O'Brien.

"But it's good experience. We've been there before and if we get there again, we'll have that confidence to maybe do something different this time.

"Inconsistency has been the story all season. We've been inconsistent with performances and inconsistent with getting the same team out week in, week out because of injuries.

"But we had a good squad out last weekend and put some decent points on them. That brings confidence back into the team and training has been good.

"We're looking forward to the challenge against Oldham and want to go out and perform. It's all about winning these last two games."

Smith knows the in-form Roughyeds will be up for the battle in their fight to avoid the drop.

The Bulls coach said: "Oldham have had a lot of good results over the course of the year and a few good wins recently.

"They will be full of confidence and, as everyone knows, teams come to Odsal and love to play in front of a big crowd and at a great venue. We're expecting nothing other than a hard game."