Bradford Bulls coach Brian Noble has revealed that Mike Forshaw will get the first opportunity to secure the crucial loose forward berth this season.

Forshaw retired from international rugby at the end of the World Club to concentrate on his Bulls commitments and will be handed the difficult task of replacing Aussie Brad Mackay who decided not to take up the second year of his Odsal contract.

"Mike will get the first shot at the back of the scrum," confirmed Noble. "He has played there a fair bit before and learned a lot from Brad last season. "He's a similar type of player to Brad and also a very underestimated one.

"He's got very good hands and is always making the ball available. His tidying up work is beyond reproach with 30 to 40 tackles a game and a really good engine to boot."

Favourites to partner him at the back of the scrum are England World Cup star Jamie Peacock and new Aussie Daniel Gartner if, as expected, he recovers from a foot injury picked up in the first warm-up game at Wakefield last Wednesday.

"Daniel was the back-rower of the year in Australia two years ago," said Noble. "He showed for half-an-hour at Wakefield before he picked up his injury just what a skilful player he is and what awareness he possesses."

Meanwhile Noble hopes to be able to give his players an early taste of their new Valley Parade surroundings prior to Sunday's Silk Cut Challenge Cup fourth round tie with Widnes.

"We want to fix up a couple of training sessions or, if not, at least the chance for our goalkickers to get some practice is down there," he added.

Fans over-18 wishing to make use of the Bantams Bar in the Carlsberg Stand will need to buy a £13 match ticket in advance from Odsal. Facilities will be available before, during and after the game.