Bradford Bulls expect to be able to announce a date for their eagerly-awaited World Club Challenge against Australian champions Newcastle Knights next week - with the weekend of February 15, 16 or 17 now the favoured option.

A date of January 26 had been suggested, but chief executive Abi Ekoko said: "The Australian season doesn't start until mid-March so that January datecould be too early.

"Nothing has been confirmed, but it is likely to be on or before the weekend of February 15 and 17.

"I am meeting Super League this week when the World Club Challenge will be discussed and we hope to be able to confirm a date next week.

"The weekend of February 15 to 17 is free at Valley Parade and it will be a good weekend for us in terms of preparing for the new Super League season.

"We will probably have a warm-up game the week before, which will be our first serious match since the Grand Final. Then the weekend after that we will be playing in the Challenge Cup."

Talking about Sunday's civic reception, Ekoku said: "This is a way in which the city and the Bulls supporters can celebrate our Grand Final win. We would like to have the biggest turnout there has ever been in Centenary Square for the reception."

The team will leave Odsal at 2pm and arrive at Centenary Square at about 2.15.