Key duo Matt Orford and Jamie Langley should both return to the Bradford side for Sunday’s hotly anticipated clash with Leeds.

Vice-captain Langley has missed four games with a quad injury, while playmaker Orford has been sidelined for the past two, since damaging his shoulder in the 19-0 defeat to Crusaders.

Friday’s 29-10 win at Wakefield came just too early for the pair but they look almost certain to bolster the Bulls’ ranks for the derby battle.

“Matt’s getting very close to playing,” said coach Steve McNamara. “We would expect him to be available for this weekend, as I would Jamie Langley too."

The news will come as a welcome boost for the Bulls boss, after watching three more players leave the field injured at Belle Vue.

Brett Kearney’s fitness appears to be the most doubtful. He hobbled off at half-time after twisting his foot and is currently wearing a protective boot as a precautionary measure.

Bradford are erring on the side of caution with their influential full back, especially as he missed all but 27 minutes of last year’s NRL season with Cronulla due to a foot problem.

“Brett’s not been ruled out at this stage,” said McNamara. “But he has got a sore foot, there’s no two ways about that.

“The X-rays have cleared him of any fractures and he’ll probably get a scan just to check there’s nothing else in there.

“It’s very much precautionary but he is very sore at the minute. There’s a long time between now and Sunday.”

Both Chris Nero and Andy Lynch stand a good chance of playing despite respective shoulder and knee problems at Wakefield.

McNamara added: “We’ll monitor them as the week goes on. Chris Nero lost a lot of strength in his arm but we think he’s okay and Andy Lynch is battling along as Andy Lynch does.”

Leeds will be without Jamie Peacock on Sunday after the former Bulls prop limped out of their win against Warrington with a knee injury, while Brent Webb faces an RFL disciplinary panel tonight for an offence committed in the same game.

Webb has been charged with a grade B offence for a high tackle on Wolves hooker Mickey Higham, which usually carries a ban of between one and two games.