Bradford Bulls hoping for a home tie in the play-offs as they face in-form Whitehaven

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Bradford Bulls will be looking to secure a home tie in this season’s play-offs as they face Whitehaven at the Odsal Stadium on Sunday.

The Bulls need just a win to earn a home play-off tie against sixth-place in the Betfred Championship table. However, if they don’t get the much-needed victory that will mean the Bulls will take on fifth-place away from home.

John Kear’s side have had a dip in form recently, with two consecutive defeats at the hands of Toulouse Olympique and last week’s narrow defeat to Widnes Vikings.

Off the field, the Bulls have been boosted with Brad England signing a new one-year deal extending his stay until 2022.

Their opponents, Whitehaven also have their eyes set on a play-off spot and are counting on the York City Knights to beat the London Broncos and for themselves to pick up a victory against Bradford.

Haven have recently been on a great run of form winning their last three consecutive games and only recording two defeats in their last 10 matches.

This could also be the last game in charge for Whitehaven Head Coach Gary Charlton as he will leave the sidelines to take up a new role in the club as Director of Rugby.

Team News

Bulls prop Ebon Scurr returns to the squad for the Haven clash after missing out previously due to injury. New signing Eldon Myers is named in the 21-man squad after an impressive debut last week. Elliot Kear is also included after making his second debut for the club last week.

Haven skipper Marc Shackley will miss out on Sunday’s clash with a pending knee operation. Charlton’s men will also be missing stand-off Karl Dixon and hooker Callum Phillips.

Despite missing three key players, the Cumbrian side will be boosted by the potential return of prop Tom Walker. Whitehaven trio Lachlan Walmsley, Nikau Williams and Ryan King are all fit as well.

Head-to-Head

In the past three meetings between the two, the Bradford Bulls have won all three including a 30-22 win in Cumbria earlier this season.

In 2018, when the Bulls were in League One, they did the double over Whitehaven with 46-0 and 27-20 victories respectively.

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