McNamara in Bullish Mood As Bradford Seek Revenge Against Wigan

Bradford will play Wigan in the first round of the Super League play-offs for the second year running and the Bulls' coach, Steve McNamara, believes his side have the necessary momentum to gain revenge for last September's dramatic defeat by Brian Noble's Warriors at Odsal.

This time last month the Bulls were in danger of missing out on the play-offs for the first time since they were introduced in 1998. But they have ended the season with three consecutive victories, the last by 18-16 at Castleford on Saturday night thanks to three tries from the Fijian wing Semi Tadulala and a late Iestyn Harris penalty.

That lifted them to fifth in the final table, above Warrington, who were beaten 38-20 by Huddersfield - their fourth consecutive defeat. That means Bradford go to Wigan in the first of next weekend's elimination play-offs and Warrington face the Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.

"We've never been too bothered where we go, we're just really pleased to be going into the play-offs with some good form behind us," said McNamara. "It wasn't our greatest performance at Castleford but it's been three straight wins and the game before that we played pretty well even though we lost at Leeds.

"We understand we will be massive underdogs going to Wigan with them finishing fourth and having home advantage and a big crowd behind them. But we'll be going there confident."

Bradford had home advantage last year having finished third to Wigan's sixth, but lost 31-30 after leading 30-6 early in the second half - the biggest comeback in the history of the play-offs. "That will be in the memories of some of our players, but we've got quite a few new ones so it's a clean slate," McNamara said.

Paul Deacon, Bradford's Wigan-born scrum-half and captain whose return from hamstring problems has triggered the Bulls' resurgence, will definitely be fit after taking a bang on his knee on Saturday and being substituted as a precaution. The full-back Michael Platt will be available after completing a three-match suspension.

Wigan, whose fourth-placed finish is their best since 2004, are expected to recall the former Great Britain forward Gareth Hock after the eight-match ban he has served since being found guilty of manhandling a touch-judge in a home defeat by Huddersfield in July. But they may have a disciplinary worry over the Samoan forward Iafeta Paleaaesina if the Rugby Football League's video review panel decides today that an off-the-ball tackle on James Graham in last Friday's 16-16 draw at St Helens requires further action than the penalty that was awarded at the time.

Warrington now appear to be rank outsiders to make any progress in the play-offs, after consecutive defeats by St Helens, Hull KR, Castleford and Huddersfield. "It was down to us and we failed to produce," said their coach, James Lowes, who has fresh injury doubts over his first-choice props, Adrian Morley and Paul Rauhihi, in addition to the half-back Lee Briers, who missed Saturday's game with a knee problem. The Wolves lost 52-14 in their last match against the Catalans, in Perpignan in July.

Tony Smith, the England coach who will be an interested but slightly nervous spectator throughout the play-offs, as he cannot afford to lose any more players to injury ahead of the World Cup, has had his British citizenship confirmed in a ceremony in Huddersfield, where he has lived for the last eight years. "I am delighted to show a strong and clear commitment to this country which I have developed during my career in rugby league here," said Smith. "My family and I have made this country our home and we are all very settled and happy. We love living here."