Bradford Bulls are two points behind St Helens in the Tetley's Super League with three games to go, but they haven't given up on the chase for the Minor Premiership.

Bulls coach Brian Noble isn't normally one for crystal ball gazing, but he admitted ahead of tonight's derby at Leeds Rhinos that they were still fighting for top spot.

"We don't accept by any means that we are playing for second place," said Noble. "We want to finish as high as we can.

"I don't normally look ahead, but if we beat Leeds tonight and Wigan beat Saints on Sunday, then ourselves and Saints are level on points again and anything can happen in the last two games."

He added: "Our motivation is to play well, and it would be great to finish in the top two."

Although this will be the fourth meeting between the great derby rivals - Leeds have won in the Challenge Cup at Valley Parade and the league at Headingley, while the Bulls have triumphed in the league at Valley Parade - Noble is expecting this clash to surpass the others.

"There is always some excitement and controversy going on, and it will be no different tonight," said the Great Britain assistant coach.

"They will be really fired up after their loss to St Helens last weekend, and what better team to find yourselves up against in their situation than Bradford?

"Leeds are difficult opponents at any time because of the derby aspect, but particularly so at Headingley.

"I thought they played really well at St Helens and they will be looking to build on that and take that kind of form into the game against us and the play-offs.

"There will be a lot of positives around Headingley - not least because they have a couple of players (Matt Diskin and Barrie McDermott) returning."

Noble stressed to his players in the middle of last month that there would be no 'gimmes' in their final six league games.

He said: "We have been very focused as we approach this game, and that is very pleasing as you can be embarrassed if you aren't.

"For example, if we are really self critical, we underperformed mentally when we lost to Castleford, while Saints beat us fair and square on a few structural things."

For once, however, Noble can pick from strength as prop Brian McDermott (foot) and winger Lesley Vainikolo (ankle), who both missed the London match, are included in the Bulls squad.