Steve McNamara has ordered his squad to improve fast or see any chance of holding on to their Engage Super League crown disappear.

The Bulls chief was massively disappointed with the way his side folded at Wigan on Friday night but accepts it has become a worrying trend.

Whereas red-hot Bradford won 13 games on the bounce to lift the title last year, they head into the play-offs this time around dogged by inconsistency.

The Bulls have lost four of their last eight fixtures but it is their away form that is a major concern.

Defeat at the JJB Stadium meant the defending champions have won just once on the road in their last SEVEN outings.

Although they ran Salford, Leeds and Harlequins close during that run and drew at Castleford, the huge let-down at Wigan only served further evidence that they are not travelling well.

With just two regular rounds to go before knockout football begins, McNamara knows his men must shake it off or their Grand Final hopes will be shattered.

"It's the nature of the game," he said. "It's very tough to win away from home as every side now is improving but we will certainly need to do that if we want to progress any further.

"We aren't going to get home ties in the play-offs so we need to make sure we perform better away from home.

"If you are going to win the competition you can't be hit and miss.

"That's what we're doing at the moment.

"We're playing well for a game or two and then having a week off.

"We know more than most that if you do that in the play-offs, you're booking your holidays early because you will be out."

Bradford cannot now catch third-placed Leeds so they must do it tough from fourth.

They will get a home tie in the first round of play-offs, most likely against Salford, but could then face trips to Leeds and Hull if they are to go all the way to Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Wakefield Wildcats - the only side Bulls have managed an away win against since May 13 - head to Grattan Stadium on Friday knowing defeat will see them relegated.

McNamara hopes to have hooker Terry Newton (dead leg) fit but Jamie Langley (groin) visits a specialist this evening and is a major doubt.

Paul Johnson could return, however, as the Warrington-bound Great Britain star made his first appearance since May yesterday, playing 40 minutes of the Senior Academy's game at Wigan.

Bradford went down 31-22, Marcus St Hilaire, Richie Hawkyard, Jonathan Horton and Craig Kopczak scoring tries.