Coach Matthew Elliott has told his Bradford Bulls side to guard against a shark attack at the Boulevard tomorrow.

His Super League table-toppers are expected to be too strong for a relegation-threatened Hull Sharks side who have won only four matches out of 27 all season.

But he knows Bulls' ambitions of finishing top of the table will be seriously harmed if they lower their guard.

He said: "We are playing a team that need to pick up a point anywhere they can to stave off relegation.

"They are desperate and I think that points for and against is an issue for them so I am expecting a tough, dour game.

"They gave us a difficult game last time in heavy rain when we were there last time and I am sure that they would like similar conditions tomorrow.

"We beat them 8-3 last time, but given a dry day I would like to think that we could improve on that.

"They have had some adverse reaction from their supporters to their defeat last week against Wigan and they will see this as an important game to give those followers something to look back on in the winter months."

The match is a special occasion for loose forward Steve McNamara who joined the Bulls from Hull three years ago.

Elliott said: "Steve has played consistently well for the latter half of the season. He usually saves his best performances for Hull and he was probably the difference the last time we played them.

"He had a good game there last year, too, and I hope he is in the same form again."

Stuart Spruce returns to the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury that has caused him to miss the last two matches, but he will be on the bench as Michael Withers continues at full back.

David Boyle returns to the side in the centre after serving a one match suspension, replacing Nathan McAvoy.

Boyle has normally played in the second row for Bulls, but played at centre for his Australian club Canberra Raiders.

Hull have a doubt about prop Karl Harrison who has a rib injury. Steve Barrow has been named as a replacement, but coach Steve Crooks is giving him as much time as possible to recover.

Fellow prop Steve Craven is out of action with Achilles tendon and hamstring injuries so Ian Pickavance, recently signed from Huddersfield, takes his position.

Andrew Purcell switches from stand-off to loose forward.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.