When the Bulls run out at Headingley on Friday, don't be surprised if they are covered in small circular bruises.

The world club champions traded their kits for overalls and their odd-shaped balls for those of the paint variety and indulged in a bit of rest and relaxation this week.

Battered and bruised from the victory over London, the Bulls followed their Monday morning training session with a trip to Brotherton and a bit of team-bonding.

The paintballing day, organised weeks ago, gave the players an opportunity to relax and unwind ahead of what promises to be a demanding end to their campaign.

Many of the players took out the frustrations of a hard-season on fitness coach and slave driver Martin Clawson, who was shown no mercy after popping up like a "meerkat".

"It is important to keep the players fresh, especially at this stage of the season," said Brian Noble, who believes he should have been awarded the 'VC' for his double flag recovery.

"We have played the best part of 30 games this year and it is important to do things like this to get away from the normal training schedule.

"It is good for team spirit and it is just something different - there comes a time when there is nothing to be gained from a straight training session.

"We really learnt who the cowards and cheats are, it was a very revealing day."

Noble admitted that in his day as a player these kinds of activities didn't exist.

"We just played four games a week and got on with it," he said. But he has welcomed their introduction over the last three years.

The entertaining day ended in a gun-fest, free-for-all named the 'pain game', and Noble will be hoping that is the only one the team suffer this week.

The players have also spent days working with the army as modern thinking has changed the way players train over a long, hard season.

"It is going to be tough over the next few weeks," said Noble.