Heath L’Estrange is hoping that memories of last year’s encounter at the DW Stadium can help inspire the Bulls to end their wretched run of form tonight.

Bradford have had to endure eight defeats in their last ten Super League encounters after last Sunday’s loss to Warrington but their 30-22 win at Wigan last season was in even tougher circumstances.

The club had just been put into administration and days after the match staff, including then head coach Mick Potter and current boss Francis Cummins, were made redundant – but the game itself is one which L’Estrange will never forget.

“It was just awesome,” recalled L’Estrange.

“The whole occasion was great and the fans were absolutely amazing.

“To know that we played so well for 80 minutes and scored tries right until the end, as well as holding them out, was a great achievement for us.

“That was some experience and one that we’d love to experience again. The week after everyone was sacked and everything went pear-shaped.

“But we’ve moved on as a club now and we’ve been on the up until about ten games ago so we’ve just got to get back to that.”

L’Estrange is also hoping to end four years of hurt with the Bulls and reach the play-offs at the end of the year.

Since arriving from the Manly Sea Eagles back in 2010, the club have not made it into the end-of-season lottery.

A threadbare squad has left the Bulls with a lack of options this year, with the Aussie hooker having to fill in at scrum half against Warrington.

L’Estrange said: “It was really hard (against Warrington) having a lot of boys out of position and we were down to the bare bones.

“But we dug deep and it was a real gutsy effort and it was good that we only went down by 14 points in the end.”

The Bulls were pipped to the play-offs by Wakefield last season after the Wildcats claimed seven wins on the bounce.

And L’Estrange believes it is vital the Bulls head off on a similar run of results.

“It’s very important to start to build some momentum now rather than later considering the way Wakey are going and the way even Cas are performing. Teams like that are starting to lift their level of performance and we need to lift with them.

“We need to pick up the points and we first need to set down a marker to show these big clubs what we’re capable of and that we won’t be bossed around.”

Meanwhile, L’Estrange is contemplating his future at the club, with his wife Jessica due to have a baby at the end of the year.

“I’m happy here at the minute and always have been but my wife’s the boss and we’ll see how we go,” he said.

“Next year it’ll be five years away from Australia and we’re due to have a baby in November.

“We’re very close to our family back home and we want our baby to grow up around them.

“We’ll have to make up our mind about what we want to do but I still want to play and I don’t want to retire but if I have to for my family then I will do it.

“It was an option for me to go back home and play at the end of the year but I’m not sure I will be able to do that now.

“I’ve got plenty of rugby left in me but family comes first at the end of the day.”