The start of the new season can’t come soon enough for Bradford Bulls.

Super League starts earlier than ever next year but that suits Bulls chief Steve McNamara just fine.

The campaign opens when Crusaders face Leeds Rhinos at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground on January 29, while Bradford kick off a week later.

It will be a testing start for McNamara’s new-look Bulls, whose opening game is a derby clash at Huddersfield on Friday, February 5, televised live on Sky at 8pm.

Their Odsal curtain-raiser comes the following Sunday against last year’s runners-up St Helens, giving home fans a chance to catch their first glimpse of the Bulls’ new signings, including Australian star Matt Orford, in competitive action.

But McNamara insists his team would have been confident whatever the opposition.

“Huddersfield had a tremendous season last season and they are a strong side but we are looking forward to the season as a whole, so it doesn’t really matter who we are playing,” said the Bulls boss.

“St Helens is a great fixture to start off with at home and it will be a good chance for our fans to see the new players tested by a good side.

“The start of the season is getting earlier and earlier, which means the pitch and the conditions will play a big part but we’ll adapt accordingly.

“We’re looking to continue the form we showed at the end of last season and hopefully get some big crowds down at Odsal early on.”

Three of the Bulls’ five opening games are at Odsal.

Following the visit of St Helens, a trip to Salford is sandwiched by home clashes with Castleford and Wigan, which could see the return of Paul Deacon after he moved to the DW Stadium this week.

Bradford open the Easter programme with a trip to Leeds Rhinos on Thursday, April 1, with the return fixture between the bitter rivals coming on Sunday, May 23.

The draw for the Murrayfield Magic weekend, which takes place on May 1 and 2, will be made later today and the Bulls’ possible opponents include Warrington, Harlequins, Hull FC, Salford and Celtic.