Six new faces will take their first-team bow in the Bulls' only warm-up game for their 2003 campaign.

But the appearances of former junior Kiwi Shontayne Hape (pictured) and Great Britain international Karl Pratt will be the highlight for Bradford fans travelling to The Jungle for tonight's friendly.

And also squeezing into the hallowed Bulls shirts will be youngsters Stuart Reardon, Vinny Myler, Aaron Smith and Chris Bridge, who signed a four-year deal this week.

Regulars missing from tonight's clash will be Tevita Vaikona, Michael Withers, Paul Anderson - all recovering from off-season operations - and veteran loose forward Mike Forshaw, who picked up a bug during the gruelling warm-weather training camp in Portugal.

The players returned on Saturday from their intensive trip to Vilamoura and were given three days off to recover.

They had their first contact training session on Tuesday and are now raring to get out on the field and put all their hard work into practice.

"This is an important hit-out for the boys," said coach Brian Noble. "They have been working very hard in training and this will be an opportunity to put some of those things into practice."

All 22 players are expected to be involved at some stage in the side's one and only warm-up match, with Noble more concerned with the performance than the result.

Castleford recruits Damian Gibson, Jamie Thackray and Paul Jackson will also make their home debuts in the Tigers' final pre-season warm-up game.

The Bulls season will begin for real on the weekend of February 8/9 when they enter the Challenge Cup in the fourth round, with the draw taking place next Monday.