Jimmy Lowes faces a fitness test today ahead of this weekend's Challenge Cup tie with his first club.

The veteran hooker banged and twisted his ankle during Friday's disappointing defeat at St Helens but will be desperate to recover for Sunday's clash with Hunslet.

The Great Britain international is regarded as one of the best players ever to play for the Hawks and still has very close links with the club.

But Bulls coach Brian Noble, who is expected to blood some youngsters in the clash with the National Division Two side, will take advice after an examination of Lowes' ankle today before making a decision.

Flying Tongan winger Tevita Vaikona will definitely be involved in the the fifth-round cup tie, after narrowly missing out on the Saints trip because of his Achilles injury.

Full back Michael Withers, who also had surgery in the off-season, is still a couple of weeks away from fitness.

And Noble, who watched the first half of Hunslet's 16-4 victory over the Keighley Cougars yesterday, admits his side need to toughen up mentally this season following their 46-22 defeat last week against their arch-rivals.

"The players were in early on Saturday for a review of the game," said Noble.

"We were not all there mentally, although there were no problems physically.

"There a few times we were caught out doing things we don't normally do and a lot of that can be put down to not being mentally ready for it.

"It is two points lost but it is a long season and I am still happy with the players in the squad and think that we will come good in the near future."