Bradford Bulls utility back Nathan McAvoy wants his side to hit Salford City Reds hard and early tonight at Valley Parade.

The 25-year-old - a former star turn at The Willows - feels the visitors will have gathered confidence by outplaying Widnes, even though they lost narrowly.

And the England international insisted: "We will just have to knock the confidence out of them."

McAvoy, probably vying with Lesley Vainikolo for a starting berth, scored an impressive 75 tries in 118 appearances for his home-town club before joining the Bulls in July, 1998.

And, although he obviously won't let it affect his game, he had some good times at The Willows.

"I have some really good memories from there," said the former Eccles amateur.

"I spent four years there and we reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, beating Wigan on the way.

"And we almost got through to the final, but concentration cost us the game against St Helens."

McAvoy joined Salford as a 16-year-old, and said that his happiest experience was "of being a youngster and coming through at senior level. I loved every minute of it."

Of the current Salford squad, McAvoy grew up with Salford hooker Malcolm Alker and stand-off Steve Balkeley.

"Malcolm wasn't quite in the first team then, but he has come on leaps and bounds since and he looks quite good and quite strong now," said McAvoy.

Bulls coach Brian Noble said: "Salford's season has been a bit topsy-turvy so far, and they are down there in a fight they didn't think they would be in.

"They have recruited some good players, but they haven't quite gelled yet.

"However, they certainly muscled up against Widnes in the footage I saw of them last weekend, and they will count themselves unlucky that they lost.

"There will still be a bit of fight and a bit of spirit in them so we will have to discourage them early on and defend tough."

Noble added: "It is unusual preparing for a Monday night match when it isn't a Bank Holiday, but it isn't an anti-climax either.

"There was a distractive big game at the weekend which a lot of people were concentrating on, and a game like Salford can sneak up on you, but we have tried to stay focused."