After the week off due to the Challenge Cup Final, we return to action this weekend against Widnes. For me, this is our most important game since the 2005 Grand Final. It's a classic four pointer. Win, and we'll be on 6 points with three games left, two of which are against Champ opposition. It would also leave Widnes in a bad position. However if we lose, we look pretty sure to be playing in the Million Pound Game, or at least fighting to be in it.

The T&A says Gaskell will be back for this one. I'd go (assuming Mullaney is fit):

Mullaney
Clare
Nielsen
Purtell
Williams
Gaskell
Addy
Clough
O'Brien
Sidlow
Ferguson
Olbison
Pitts

Lauaki
Crossley
Blythe
Mellor

There's enough quality in there to give Widnes a game. We can't give them unnecessary field position, otherwise Kevin Brown will run the show. Play like we did against Salford and I think we've a good chance, but I don't think Widnes will take us as lightly as the Red Devils did.

Think we can give them a good game if we come out with the same attitude as we did against Salford. I think the Salford result means we can forget any possibility of the SL sides thinking it will be easy - though don't confuse that with thinking we are, in any way, favourites. We're at home, we're a decent team and we'll put up a good show but Widnes must start favourites, that said, it's a two horse race and, as the Salford game quite definitely proved, anything [ican[/i happen.

I would like to be more confident going into this game, but seeing how we have played for the past 4-5 games I'm definitely not confident. We have been poor. I cant put my finger on it but the only word that pops into my head when I think of how Widnes have been playing is "LAZY"
I think you have a really good chance in this game and I would not be surprised to see you turn us over.

Part of the trouble is we never know which Bradford is going to turn up.

If the team that turned up against Salford show up Sunday then I think we've got a good chance to take a second SL scalp. The odds of that go up if Widnes show up with the attitude Salford had in as much as all they needed to do was show up and they'd win easily. But until we actually kick off Sunday, there's no real way of knowing.

This game can't come quick enough. Nothing to add to the above except COYB!

Just had a look and you've a huge squad. Have you had a lot of injuries?

Throughout the season we've had more than our fair share to key players. I think part of our problem the last few games has been the fact that we may have brought too many players back into the squad all at the same time and some still not being 100%. We're playing like some don't know the moves or are reluctant to take the ball in at any pace allowing the defence to move up.
Its been hard to watch at times lately.

It's easy. If the same Bulls turn up as against Salford, then at least it will be a competitive game.

If Widnes turn up pumped and firing on all cylinders then they are still favourites to win. But add Gaskell to the Salford squad, throw in a couple of pens/Widnes mistakes and it is game on.

But Widnes have been up and down all season and by their fans' own accounts are not playing well. If they come short of confidence and we come out strong and get ahead then you would have to fancy us.

And if we turned up in the same frame of mind as against Wakefield, then we could concede another 50.

I love being a Bull - calling the games is so simple!

Massive game. A win would put us in a strong position for promotion without the million pound game as Widnes will have to play Wakey, Salford and Leigh, all our rivals for promotion. So every week, at least one of our rivals will drop points.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high as i know what a huge boost win would do to our promotion hopes and i remember being in the same situation prior to the Wakefield game.

Think Widnes will come out fired up and bring their A game. I think this is a game they cannot lose.

It is a curious experience to not have any clue pre-match whether we will have 50 put on us or we'll win. In that respect, this week is the same as the run-up to the Wakey and Salford games. We didn't see the Wakey destruction coming, we didn't see the destruction of Salford coming, so whatever you think will happen against Widnes..erm..won't.

It'd be nice if we kept the current home form we've shown in the qualifiers and the 40+ points that's gotten us in both games. But I guess we'll see come Sunday

Well 40+ points usually denotes a win but the way we've defended on occasions.....

Our defence has been superb.. but then we haven't really been tested yet. Kept Fax scoreless, Sheffield scored 2 from kicks, and we gifted HKR 2 tries (and the game). Its our attack that's been off the boil though. Couldn't seem to break down Fax until the last couple of minutes, Sheffield let us walk in really, and we could of been playing for a week against HKR and I don't think we would of scored any more points.
Our kicking for goal has been the worst I can ever remember these last few weeks, so if its a tight game which comes down to goal kicks then that's where it will suddenly become squeaky-bum time for Widnes.

Haven't seen much of Widnes but i can understand how they can blow hot and cold,need to get out of the blocks early like against Salford and make them start to doubt themselves.

From the T&A:

"The Bulls will assess the fitness of Lee Gaskell, Harry Siejka and Matt Ryan ahead of Sunday's game but Jake Mullaney looks certain to feature."