In-form Steve McNamara admits the Bulls are entering the unknown when they make their first visit to Gateshead's Thunderdome tomorrow.

But with 17 Australians lining up against them, the club captain has a good idea what to expect as the second-placed Bulls look to cut St Helens lead to a single point.

The Super League leaders saw their nine-match unbeaten run surprisingly ended at Barnsley last night when they were defeated 23-22 by Wakefield Trinity.

That result gives the Bulls added incentive to overcome their tricky mission.

McNamara says: "We don't know that much about Thunder except that they are a strong and physical side, full of Aussie."

"I think that they will play a type of game similar to what London Broncos did when Tony Currie was in charge.

"They are well-disciplined and well-structured but as for their individuals we don't know too much about them apart from what our Australians have told us."

McNamara also has a healthy respect for Thunder coach Shaun McRae.

"He has done a good job there, as he did at St Helens where he won a lot of trophies. We are only a few weeks into the season and already people are talking of them as top five material, so he must be doing something right.

"We are expecting a tough physical encounter. It is a tight field and they will use that to their advantage."

McNamara hopes to make it a memorable double tomorrow after cheering on Skirlaugh in today's BNFL National Cup final against Wath Brow Hornets at Whitehaven. He acts as coaching adviser to the Hull-based amateurs where he started his career.

Bulls winger Tevita Vaikona look certain to miss out due to groin trouble and Nick Zisti is poised to replace him.

There is also a change on the bench where Neil Harmon comes in for Jeremy Donougher to give Elliott more prop cover in the absence of Paul Anderson who completes a two match ban.

Vaikona is expected to be fit for the visit of Wigan next Saturday.

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