JAMES Mendeika, who is expected to return tomorrow after five weeks out, has warned his Bulls team-mates to be on their guard in the first quarter of their match at Toulouse Olympique.

Toulouse have won all five of their league matches this season at Stade Ernest Argeles, averaging 42 points a game while conceding only just over eight.

Batley (44-6), Dewsbury (56-2) and Oldham (58-18) have been blown away but the French side have been tested by Swinton (36-28) and Hull KR (14-6).

Centre or full back Mendeika, who is on the comeback trail following a torn ankle ligament, said: "French teams try and knock you off your stride in the first 20 minutes when they play at home.

"Toulouse have made their home a fortress – but we know what to expect and hopefully we will weather that storm and give as good as we get."

The Bulls beat Toulouse 29-22 at Odsal in round four in late February and 25-year-old Mendeika admitted: "The self-belief comes because we have already beaten them this season.

"We are not far off being able to put in an 80-minute performance but we are still making too many errors and giving away too many penalties.

"It will be a bit hotter over there and hopefully that will help us get a better completion rate, nick two points and have a bit of a party in France.

"A lot of games have been and gone since (we beat Toulouse) but there is nothing for us to lose, so we can go over and have a good dig. We have trained hard and hopefully we will put on a good game for the fans who travel.

"There is a big in-goal area, so there are a lot of places where we can complete sets and make them defend repeat sets instead of it being down our end. Hopefully, if we can play field position we can pick up a win."

Yet Mendeika, who picked up his injury in a Challenge Cup defeat at Featherstone Rovers – one of his former clubs – admitted that the Bulls have struggled in the past three matches, having done all right in the first two games that he missed.

He said: "Easter was disappointing and losing to Oldham with the last play of the game was the most disappointing result so far. Now I am looking to get back out there and hopefully get a win."