Scott Naylor still has a soft spot for Salford but it won't stop him from helping to drive them further into the dirt at Odsal on Sunday.

The combative centre spent five years at the Willows and was concerned enough for the plight of his former colleagues to attend Monday's heavy defeat by Wigan. But after two weeks on the sidelines he has worries of his own as he bids to regain his starting spot.

"It has been a very frustrating spell for me," he admitted. "I had established a pretty good partnership with Tevita and then I got a bang on the ribs against Warrington.

"But I have to admit I am desperate to play in this one. I have been looking forward to it from the day I moved to Bradford.

"I am certainly fit for selection and really keen to get the nod. I was told when I got the injury that it would be three to four weeks before I played again and it will be three weeks this Sunday.

"It has cleared up pretty well and I just want to get back on the field because I am not a great watcher."

When Naylor got the chance to move to Odsal he saw it as a big chance to pick up the medals which were always likely to elude with the Reds.

But even he has been surprised at the demise of the club despite finishing next to bottom last term.

"They had a pretty big clear-out and while I did not expect them to be pushing for a play-off place I thought they would be a pretty comfortable mid-table side.

"But when I watched them on Monday it was obvious they have big problems.

"They did not get the rub of the green early on and could have been 12-0 up but they slipped away badly after that and were well beaten at the finish.

"I have to say I can't see them beating us on Sunday and after that they have Leeds and London to play so they could easily be in a position where they have lost their first 11 games. I still have a lot of friends there though and hope they can pull themselves out of trouble."

But priority for the 27-year-old remains establishing him as a permanent fixture in the Bulls line-up.

"I have really enjoyed it so far. The move here was a big chance for me and while I have been reasonably happy with my form so far I still feel I have a fair bit more to offer.

"That goes for the team to. We have still not hit our straps but when we do I think we have the squad that can take us all the way to the Grand Final."

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