Bradford Bulls certainly seem to have found out that a change is as good as a rest this week.

With head coach Brian Noble out in Australia with the Great Britain squad, the Bulls have been doing very nicely thank you under assistant coach Darrel Shelford.

In fact, the Bulls' longest serving player, Brian McDermott, has seen the positives of operating under their No 2 as they prepare to face basement club Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

"Not having Nobby here this week has been a bit like a breath of fresh air to us, and that is not saying that Nobby has been going stale by any means," said the 32-year-old prop.

"It is just a question of listening to a different voice, and if any players had any doubts about Darrel as a coach, then those questions have been answered to the full because what we have done this week has been brilliant.

"We haven't changed anything - tactically we are going to go on the same lines, and on the physical side of things we have trained as hard, probably even harder.

"But it is just a different way of putting things, and Darrel has put his little slight on things, his different view on things, and with the coaches I have had he has been up there with the best."

McDermott, in his testimonial season with the club, added, however: "But what he is like week in, week out you won't be able to tell until he is a head coach.

"But Nobby has no need to worry about us - everything has been going well."

Hooker James Lowes likens the Wildcats to Widnes, who they faced last Thursday at Valley Parade.

"Both sides are tough and difficult to beat," said the Great Britain shadow squad member. "We are lucky enough to have three players in the Great Britain squad and also Brian Noble is in Australia for the Test match, so it will be difficult for us.

"Training has gone well though, and I have every confidence in Darrel Shelford and Bernard Dwyer, but we all realise what a tough game it will be."

Last season's Yorkshire captain added: "We need to win it, and that is the end of the story. All the players are aware of that and are focused on what we need to do. We will be going all out for the victory."