Bulls coach Matthew Elliott and his Rhinos opposite number Dean Lance today began three days of Murrayfield mind games ahead of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup final.

Both coaches are anxious to give nothing away at this stage and there was no further evidence of the way either was thinking after they named their provisional squads.

Elliott's 21-man squad includes no major omissions from this year's successful Super League side. It is made up of the 17 on duty against London Broncos plus the Paul brothers, Stuart Fielden and David Boyle.

The Bulls' boss, who will trim the squad to 18 or 19 on Friday, said: "We are pleased that the final week has finally come. It has seemed like a long time coming but we have managed to accumulate Super League points along the way and remain quite focused - which is testimony to the players."

Meanwhile Lance is also keeping his cards close to his chest after naming a 20-man party for Edinburgh.

The squad includes ex-Great Britain hooker Lee Jackson, who was dropped for last week's win over Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants, and three teenagers including Chev Walker, Kevin Sinfield and Karl Pratt.

"I think the most important aspect as far as their squad is concerned is that their key players are all fit," said Elliott.

Meanwhile, Bulls' unlucky scrum half Paul Deacon is looking to put his frustrating start to the season behind him with a Challenge Cup final win.

The England prospect, who held down a regular first team place at Odsal last season, is in line for a place at Murrayfield despite missing the start of the Bulls' Super League V and Challenge Cup campaigns with a knock picked up on a pre-season training trip to Lanzarote.

"It was a freak accident," he said. "I just tripped over a piece of equipment and broke a bone in my foot.

"I was really frustrated to pick up an injury especially as it was so early in the season with the Cup rounds on the way. But I have had good luck in my career as well so you have to take the rough with the smooth."

Elliott has made no secret of his admiration for the youngster and recently announced the address for the headquarters of the Paul Deacon fan club as his own!

But Deacon was quick to brush off the plaudits.

"You can tell by our performances what a good coach he is," he said. "Matt is the best coach I have ever played under and I have been lucky enough for him to give me a chance in the first team. His man management and the team spirit he instills in the players is magnificent."

Elliott's willingness to blood his young star in the big games was shown as he handed him a place in last year's losing Grand Final side and his faith was repaid as Deacon didn't freeze on the big stage.

"I'm pretty laid back so I don't get too nervous before big games," he said.

"You get a buzz from walking out in front of a big crowd like in the Grand Final last year but once you get into your pre-match warm up then you get on with your own game. After we lost it was like being in a morgue in the dressing room and no-one was talking. I was gutted and couldn't wait to get out there again and win a trophy."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.