STUART Howarth is poised to return to action for the Bulls against Swinton tomorrow but admits he faces an uncertain future at the end of this season.

The Wakefield hooker is on loan at Bradford for the rest of the campaign and is currently assessing his options.

His contract at Belle Vue expires at the end of the season and will not be renewed, leaving him searching for an opening elsewhere.

While Howarth has enjoyed his stint at Odsal and would like the move to become permanent, Rohan Smith already has Adam O'Brien, Joe Lumb and Vila Halafihi contracted for next year.

That has left Howarth to pursue other opportunities and the former Salford man admitted: "My future is still up in the air.

"We don't know what the situation is here (at Bradford) so it's just a case of playing and training each day then seeing what happens.

"I'll just train hard and play hard and my agent will probably speak to me in the next couple of weeks about getting things sorted."

Halafihi remains contracted to Bradford for the 2017 campaign, while Lumb and O'Brien are tied down on long-term deals.

Bulls head coach Smith admitted: "At this moment in time, we have no space around the hooker position. We've got what we've got in that area."

The good news for Howarth is that he is fit to play again after recovering from recent concussions which have seen him sidelined for the past two games.

He said: "I had repeated concussion. I had two bad ones against Featherstone and then one the week after.

"But I'm back in the squad this week and if Rohan and the physios think I'm okay, then I'll play. If not, it will be the week after – but I've had a week and a half of full training now and I'm ready to go.

"The main thing was getting my head right after a couple of bad concussions. I was enjoying myself here up until the Featherstone game on the final day of the regular season.

"That was a bitter disappointment, and it took a week or so to get over it, but it's back to normal now and I'm happy to keep playing rugby here at Bradford."

Howarth is among a growing number of rugby league players who are making provisions for the future away from the game.

Having completed a degree in sport and exercise science at Liverpool John Moore University, he is now studying for a masters degree in sports nutrition at the same academic institution.

"I'm pretty smart with my education in that I've got a degree and am moving on to a masters now," said Howarth.

"I'm backed up just in case and have something to fall back on – but I'm looking to keep playing rugby because I'm still only 27. I've just finished my degree in sport and exercise science and am doing my masters in sports nutrition.

"I've got that in the pipeline for the long-term and I do my own stuff, which works well with my rugby commitments. All the coaches I've had are pretty good and flexible.

"We work hard but the coaches are good these days and they let you train and do your academic commitments. Rugby is number one at the minute and my career is second.

"The game is so temperamental at the moment with the uncertainty of which clubs are going up or down, so you need to keep your options open. I'm just staying patient, training hard and then seeing what happens."

Bulls secured top spot in the Championship Shield with victory at Dewsbury on Monday and Smith is plotting another win over Swinton.

The Bulls boss, who will also recall Dale Ferguson, said: "The boys performed strongly last time against Swinton at home but that was a long time ago and a lot of things have happened since then for both teams.

"I expect the same as always, a team who are excited to play at the Provident Stadium and will try and spoil the party.

"Swinton have been playing some decent rugby of late and they'll look to give it their best shot."