Brian Noble will be without leading try-scorer Leon Pryce for the next two games but admitted: It could have been worse.

Pryce was dismissed in Sunday's 30-10 victory over Castleford by referee Steve Ganson for a late hit on Great Britain international team-mate Danny Orr, who was left with concussion after the incident.

And the Bulls stand-off was last night hit with the two-game suspension and £300 fine, which rules him out of Sunday's trip to Huddersfield and, crucially, the visit of Leeds to Odsal next week for the Challenge Cup final re-match.

This will mean Noble, who is also without long-term injury victims Stuart Fielden and Mick Withers, once again having to juggle his team about.

"I can't say I'm happy to lose a healthy player for two games," said Noble, who attended the hearing at RFL headquarters with the 21-year-old.

"We put our case, they put theirs and we have to accept the decision. It could have been a lot worse and he could have got a longer ban.

"With Mick (Withers) and Stu (Fielden) both out, losing a healthy player isn't what we wanted but we will deal with the situation as we have done before.

"It is another test for us, but I am happy with the squad here and I am happy that other players can come in and do a job."

There were fears the RFL may have thrown the book at Pryce, who served a four-match ban for a late hit on Kevin Sinfield in last year's Challenge Cup fourth round, but the disciplinary committee only deemed the 31st minute incident "reckless use of the fore-arm" and not "deliberate use" which could have carried a much stiffer penalty.

Pryce has been in scintillating form this season, playing some of his best rugby for the Challenge Cup winners and scoring 13 tries in 13 games, including some superb solo efforts.

But with the lanky former Queensbury player suspended, Karl Pratt would be the obvious replacement at stand off with skipper Robbie Paul already having to stand in at full back for Withers.

And Noble may face his first major selection headache after a relatively injury-free month with three players missing training in the early part of the week.

Lesley Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape and Lee Gilmour all suffered knocks to their knees during Sunday's victory over the Tigers and couldn't train properly on Monday or Tuesday.

Aussie Danny Gartner, who injured his wrist during that game, is expected to recover but will face a fitness test tomorrow.

Depending on the recovery of the trio of backs, Noble may once again be forced to call upon youngsters to pad out his squad, something he has not been afraid of in the past with Stuart Reardon and Jamie Langley both ably standing in during the early season injury crises.