Bradford Bulls' Lee Radford isn't only playing for his place at the moment - he's also playing for a new contract.

The 23-year-old second-rower, who has started in four of the last five matches while Daniel Gartner has been out with a rib cartilage injury, admitted: "My form hasn't been great this year, but with a bit of luck it is going to pick up.

"I was glad to play for the 80 minutes on Monday night against Salford, and I just want to get better."

Added Radford, who joined the Bulls from Hull in late 1998: "Basically I am playing for a contract as it expires at the end of the season, so I'll just keep my head down and hopefully it will come. I have got a spot and I have to do my best to keep it."

Radford made 15 appearances for the Bulls last season and one of his seven starts was at The Jungle in early May, and the Bulls are there again tomorrow.

"We pipped them by two points," said Radford. "They are a gritty side, especially at home, and they will be turning it on for the Sky TV cameras, but it is two points we have got to get."

Three times in the last six matches the Bulls have conceded the first two tries, and it is something that Radford is acutely aware of.

"Starting slowly is something that has crept up on us this season," said the Yorkshire and England forward. "And it is something we will address and hopefully correct at Castleford tomorrow and at Leeds a week tomorrow.

"Nobby (coach Brian Noble) isn't happy about it, and it is something we have looked at in our video sessions.

"Salford wasn't the first time this season that we have started slowly. They are a gritty side, but thankfully we won in the end."

The former Great Britain Academy international added: "They are the only team I seem to score against.

"I have scored four in the last three seasons, and they have all been against Salford!"

Radford isn't too worried, however, that the Bulls haven't hit the heights yet this campaign.

He said: "If we are playing below par and winning, then it isn't a bad thing, and when we hit form the rest of Super League are going to find out about it.

"In the 1999 season, we started like a house on fire, but come the end of the season we had nothing left in the tank.

"With a bit of luck, hopefully it will be the other way round this year. We peaked far too early in 1999."