Bradford Bulls are ready to repeat their former glories after their intense nine-day warm-weather training camp in Portugal.

The World Club champions, who returned from the Algarve at the weekend, are delighted with their nine-day stint in Vilamoura.

"We were the pioneers of warm-weather training camps," said Bulls' assistant coach Bernard Dwyer. "And this was the longest one we have ever been on - normally they only last a week.

"But the most successful teams in rugby league go away on them, and we hope this season will be as successful as 2001.

"The camp really is the foundation for the season, and if you have a successful camp like we have then you have a successful season."

The players returned on Saturday, but were then given three days off to allow them to recover before Friday's warm-up game at Castleford Tigers (8.00).

Dwyer added: "There were a lot of tired players out there because the sessions were intense, and there is a lot of soreness too.

"But now the lads cannot wait to go to The Jungle, and we are sure that the training camp will hold us in good stead over the course of the season."

Dwyer, who retired as a player in 2000, said: "We were the first team to use the new facilities at the complex. The pitch was fantastic, and the weather was sunny enough to enable us to do everything that we couldn't do because of the frost in our last week in England."

l Ticket prices for Friday's friendly are £8 for adults and £4 for juniors, with a £2 transfer to the main stand for those wishing to sit. Admission is pay at the gate only.