JOHN Kear will remind the Bulls that there is no place like home as they head towards the play-off shoot-out.

Kear is eager to secure a knock-out game at Odsal going into the penultimate round of the Championship regular season at Widnes tomorrow.

The Bulls maintained fourth spot despite last week’s trouncing from Toulouse – which would ensure kicking off the play-offs on their own ground in a fortnight.

He said: “We’d just naturally feel more comfortable in the surroundings at Odsal, so it’s important we try and qualify third or fourth, and we’ll probably need something from our last two games to ensure that.

“It’s going to be tough home or away obviously, as it’s the best teams in the league in these play-offs.

“One thing that we’re mindful of and that’s in our favour is that (third-placed) Halifax play Batley (who are fifth) in the last game of the season, so one of those two will take points off the other.

“But we’ve just got to worry about what we can control ourselves.”

Kear had major selection issues against the leaders with 10 players unavailable. That has eased slightly with the arrival of Elliot Kear, who comes straight into the squad after qualifying as a fire fighter.

Danny Brough is also back after missing the Toulouse defeat with a hip injury as well as Aaron Murphy and Anthony Walker.

And new signing Eldon Myers is immediately involved after signing a two-year deal.

But Brandon Pickersgill is not included following the back spasm he suffered in last weekend’s game which saw him rushed to hospital.

Adam Rooks, Jack Sanderson and Masi Matongo are also not involved because of isolation issues with Covid.

Kear said: “The one who had it won’t be playing this week or next.

“As for the other two, their isolation period ends today but it’s too much to ask for them to play.

“Ant Walker and Aaron Murphy were both struggling and missed last week but I expect them to feature.”

Widnes inflicted a 25-12 home loss on the Bulls in June but sit in ninth despite a big win over Oldham last week.

“I’m surprised they are where they are when you look at the players they’ve got,” admitted Kear.

“I thought Matty Smith was magnificent when they beat us at Odsal earlier in the year and they’ve got a good three quarter in Ste Tyrer, who destroyed us in the reverse fixture.

“Deon Cross is a great player for them out on the wing, Jack Cross is a talented full-back, and they’ve got some tough forwards.

“We know what we have to do and we shouldn’t need reminding either, after their win against us at home.

“We respect them and know we have work to do as they beat us comprehensively at Odsal.”

The Bulls aim to bounce back from a “good hiding” by Toulouse - their biggest loss of the campaign - but Kear had no arguments with the combative approach from the French side, which saw several players needing treatment.

He said: “I think you have to be aggressive to play rugby league. If you’re not aggressive you shouldn’t be on the field.

“I have no issue with how Toulouse played last Sunday to be honest. But given we lost by 60 points to six, I have an issue with how we played.”