JOHN Kear insists the Bulls must try not to get caught up in the emotion at this weekend’s Odsal farewell.

Sunday’s showdown with Sheffield brings down the curtain on 85 years of rugby at the famous stadium.

It will be a tough occasion for fans and players as the club prepare to make their short-term move to Dewsbury in 2020.

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But with the faint play-off hopes still alive, Kear stresses the team’s focus must be on getting the two points.

Sheffield currently sit one point above the Bulls and both sides will be banking on fifth-placed Featherstone slipping up at Batley to take it to the final week.

Kear said: “It will be emotional. You can’t get away from that.

“That’s something we are going to have to factor into our preparations.

“It is going to be very emotional, especially for people like Elliot Minchella and Steve Crossley. It’s bound to be for the fans.

“I just hope it’s a great occasion for all concerned.

“The result means something, whether it’s play-offs or jumping over Sheffield in the table.

“If we beat them, the worst we can finish then is sixth – which I think is a hell of an effort from the playing group in such a competitive league.”

The Bulls have arranged special events to mark the occasion and invited as many former players as possible to attend the game.

Kear has revealed his own personal attachment with Odsal as the venue 30 years ago where he last saw his late father, who passed away from a heart-attack on the way home.

He knows the sentimentality that will be hanging over the fixture – and wants to be able to respect that afterwards on the back of a winning send-off.

“It’s been the home of the club for so many years and I think it will always be the spiritual home,” added the Bulls coach.

“It is an emotional fixture but what we’ve got to do as a playing group is be professional.

“Our first priority is not to get involved in that emotion until the game is over. We’ve got to win the game and then we can reflect about the enormity of the occasion and the emotion of the day.”

Kear got a close look at in-form Sheffield last weekend in his role as a TV pundit at the Challenge Cup final. That was followed by the inaugural 1895 Cup showpiece, where the Eagles came from 12 points down to beat Widnes 36-18.

It was the club's first appearance at Wembley since Kear had masterminded their against-the-odds Challenge Cup success 21 years earlier.

They have since played at four different homes, including Wakefield and Doncaster, before finally returning to their home city.