Chris Caisley was expecting Great Britain coach David Waite to name five Bradford Bulls players in his squad of 17 today for Sunday's first Guinness Test at the McAlpine Stadium.

The Bulls chairman feels that Paul Anderson, Stuart Fielden, Leon Pryce, Jamie Peacock and Mike Forshaw will be selected.

However, he reckons that their fellow Super League Grand Final winners Paul Deacon and Michael Withers will miss out.

Caisley said: "If I was selecting the squad, I would name all seven Bulls players. But, having looked at the way David Waite played the match against France and the changes he made, I feel he will leave out both Deacon and Withers.

"He had Deacon playing at stand-off with Paul Sculthorpe behind him, so I don't think he will be handing Deacon the No 7 shirt.

"But to my mind, Deacon has the best kicking game of anyone in the Great Britain squad of 26, and Withers just speaks for himself."

Added Caisley: "I think Waite will name Mike Forshaw at hooker.

"He would acquit himself very well there, and might even prove the surprise packet.

"I don't know where Waite will play Leon, but in Kris Radlinksi, Andy Farrell, Paul Sculthorpe and Stuart Fielden Great Britain have some key men.

"I think Radlinski will play at full back, and Gary Connolly and Keith Senior in the centres."

Looking ahead to the series itself, Caisley said: "Australia could send out two or three sides of world-class ability at any one time, whereas we could send a good side out.

"It is disappointing that Great Britain aren't going to be at full strength, but our players have had the biggest time together in pre-series history, especially with the club matches against the Aussies being cancelled.

"Also the Australians only arrived on Tuesday and have come from a warm climate to typical British weather.

"And the arenas are probably smaller than some of those they are used to back home.

"Another key thing, especially in the early stages of the first Test, is going to be Britain's defence.

"If they can hold out - and hopefully the Bulls' Brian Noble (Great Britain's assistant coach) will have had some influence here - and the crowd can get behind them, then anything is possible."

Bradford Bulls' chief executive Abi Ekoku today expressed his sadness that the Super League Grand Final winners could not face the Australian tourists.

They were due to meet at Valley Parade on Sunday, October 28, but although the tour has gone ahead in the wake of the terrorist attacks, the club matches have all bitten the dust.

Ekoku said: "Unlike some people, I don't think there is much difference between the game at top level in Australia and Great Britain.

"And, especially with the way we ended the season, the Bulls would have had a genuine chance of beating Australia were we at full strength.

"And the match would also have given a strong indicator of how the Test series would have gone, coming as it did just days before the first Test.

"Of course, if we had won it would have given the Great Britain side a massive boost."