Brett Kearney is confident the Bulls can make a serious improvement this season – but insists no specific targets have even been mentioned.

The Australian full back should prove a pivotal figure again this term as Mick Potter’s men look to put three years of failure firmly behind them.

Chairman Peter Hood spoke recently of his hope that Bradford can enjoy a dramatic upturn in fortunes by challenging for a top-four finish.

Hood has been left in optimistic mood following the arrival of six new players and the fact that Potter and his men have enjoyed a full pre-season without disruption, unlike last year.

Kearney has similarly been filled with optimism since arriving for pre-season training and is confident of a far better year than 2011.

But when asked about potential targets, the 28-year-old said: “We’ve not spoken about it. Everyone is just cracking on with their job.

“We know where we went wrong last year and the areas in which we need to improve.”

Potter’s men trained for a fortnight at the end of the regular season, despite their campaign being over, and Kearney believes it was a worthwhile exercise.

He said: “It’s what we had to do. The key thing is that we came back for pre-season stronger than we finished last season.

“If we dropped back a level we would have been doing the same as we had in the previous seasons, trying to catch up.

“But this year the skill levels are good, the players are fit and we’re just ready for the start now.”

Although new prop Manase Manuokafoa will miss the opening rounds of 2012, several players laid low by injury last year – such as Heath L’Estrange, Nick Scruton and Matt Diskin – are edging towards full fitness.

That could leave Potter with several selection dilemmas ahead of the big kick-off at home to Catalan Dragons on Sunday, February 5.

Kearney said: “We look deep in virtually every position and the things we’ve done on the field during pre-season have been fantastic.”