ROSS Peltier has called for cool heads as the Bulls build up to the first league derby against Keighley in 42 years.

The Cougars old boy is convinced John Kear's team will conquer his fired-up former club on Sunday.

But they must guard against being dragged into a street fight after four players were sent off in a fiery friendly at Odsal in January.

The Bulls forward anticipates a hostile atmosphere in the first league clash between the two neighbours since Easter 1976.

Peltier said: "It's been a long time since they played competitively but that bad blood from Keighley is still there.

"I remember playing for them when Bradford first got relegated from Super League. All the Keighley fans were wearing 'Bulls are going down' shirts and stuff like that.

"There will be no love lost between the clubs come Sunday.

"We've just got to keep a cool head. If you look at their game last week, they had such a lead against North Wales but couldn't sustain playing at a tempo.

"The York game showed we can do that for 80 minutes and I don't think they'll stay with us. All that other stuff will go out of the window come second half."

Ethan Ryan and Elliot Minchella were red-carded as well as Keighley duo Samir Tahraoui and Ryan Wright in the pre-season encounter – which the Bulls won 28-20.

It avenged the previous year's friendly when the Cougars won by a single point.

Peltier said: "They weren't happy with our celebrations but we were taking the mick out of what happened last year.

"We felt they were celebrating like they'd just won the Challenge Cup final, whereas to us it was just another pre-season game. But that shows how big it is to them and the town itself.

"For us, it's just another game and another two points.

"We'll have to be on our game from the start because the opposition will raise their game by another ten per cent. But it is like a cup final for every team who play us.

"Everyone wants to be the team that beats Bradford, especially Keighley.

"We won't be dragged into how they want to play. Last time there were a few scraps.

"In the pre-season game, our yellow cards were from people joining in fights because they were starting them."

Peltier spent three years at Cougar Park after Paul March picked him up following his exit from Huddersfield.

He admitted it was an "up and down" time at the club, switching to union in the second season to play for Bradford & Bingley. Yet he insists he returns to his old haunt as a very different player.

Peltier said: "I've grown in how I read the game and my body is stronger and faster. I'm fitter than I've ever been right now.

"People have taught me how to get through a game, how to be smart and use my energy. I think I've come on a lot since my time at Keighley and I'm a lot more athletic now.

"You saw in the York game and the last time we played Keighley, a lot of teams try to get at me, work me over in defence so I can't attack.

"But I've been working hard with the conditioners and with John to counteract that and be the best I can."

Kear will decide on trialist Jordan Andrade after tonight's reserve game against Keighley at Dudley Hill. He has already given a contract to Harvey Burnett.