Tomorrow's World Club Challenge clash against Australia's Newcastle Knights is just the start of one of the hardest starts to a season the Bulls have ever faced.

But for prop Brian McDermott, it's a challenge he and the rest of the squad a viewing with relish! As well as the Aussies, Bulls take on Leeds Rhinos at home in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup, and then Wigan Warriors away in the Tetley's Super League.

And they could also have another round of the Challenge Cup between the Leeds and Wigan clashes.

McDermott calls it "the hardest start I can remember to a season", but the 31-year-old isn't complaining.

McDermott, whose testimonial season is launched on Saturday, March 2 - the day after the Wigan match - says: "I prefer this kind of schedule to be honest.

"We could have played an amateur team in the cup, or even a Northern Ford Premiership side, and we would have been on a hiding to nothing.

"If we had thrashed them, it was what everyone expected, but if we had struggled everyone would say the Bulls are not firing on all cylinders."

The nearest McDermott can remember to a start like this was when the Bulls won the Challenge Cup two years ago, facing a Super League team in every round, but even he realises that this opening eclipses 2000.

However, the curiosity of tomorrow's one-off match against the Knights hasn't been lost on McDermott either.

"When you think about it, it isn't like the Challenge Cup, where you might play over two months, or the Grand Final, which you play for over the course of a whole season.

"Tomorrow is a reward for winning the Grand Final, and it is strange to think that if we win against the Knights we will be champions of the world.

"But that is a nice tag to have. It is different to the Challenge Cup or the Grand Final, but certainly no less tough. If we win I will say it is the greatest thing, but if we lose I will probably dismiss it!"

McDermott isn't being fooled by the Knights stressing how far they have travelled to play this match or how they haven't played a warm-up fixture.

He said: "If we were playing in Australia and had spent a day-and-a- half in an aeroplane, we would probably be saying the same things.

"But the Knights will have taken that into account in their training schedules, and their preparation will have been second to none."

Newcastle have also been quick to point out how wary they are of the Bulls pack, but McDermott stresses that Bradford are not just strong in the forwards.

"As usual, the forwards will hold the key, and the Knights have already picked up on our pack, but we also have plenty of talent in the backs, so if they want to take us on out wide that will suit us fine too," said McDermott.

"And our preparation, thanks to Brian Noble, Karl Harrison and Darrel Shelford, has been spot-on.

"They seem to be able to prepare us right for any particular game."

lThe Bulls are selling 1,000 limited edition World Club Challenge shirts - available from the usual outlets.