Bradford Bulls are looking to take a 10,000-strong army of fans to Headingley on Saturday to cheer them into the Challenge Cup final at Murrayfield.

The club reported brisk business yesterday when tickets for the semi-final clash with Warrington Wolves went on sale to season-ticket holders and anticipate another hectic day today when they are available generally.

"The match is on our doorstep and it would be great to think we could make Headingley into a sea of red, amber and black," said chairman Chris Caisley who was delighted with Sunday's 17,000 turn-out for the Super League clash between the sides.

"We set ourselves a target of 20,000 and would have reached it had Warrington brought the 4,000 fans they were predicting.

"Instead their following was only about 1,500 which would account for the shortfall.

"But I was delighted with the response of the Bulls fans and the colour and spectacle of the day was a throwback to our title-winning year in 1997.

"The performance was superb and I am sure any fans who went to that game will be beating the door down to get their hands on semi-final tickets.

"The supporters have a vital role to play on Saturday," added Caisley who expects Warrington to bounce back strongly from the embarrassment of their 58-4 hiding on Sunday.

"Allan Langer and Tawera Nikau are great players because they have the ability to bounce back from disappointments and pick up winners' medals.

"It will be a totally different game and we know only too well how things can turn around from one week to another."

The Bulls will have Stuart Fielden (neck), Michael Withers (ribs) and Lee Radford (rested) available again and it leaves coach Matthew Elliott with some difficult selection posers.

"I've got to give everybody the opportunity to play," he said.

"I've got a great deal of faith in the young kids we've got coming through. Young kids like Alex Wilkinson and Rob Parker are capable of playing first-team rugby now.

"I don't know if I am going to make any changes, but I imagine I will."

The only absentee is scrum-half Paul Deacon, who has a broken hand, but is back in light training and could be back in action within a fortnight.

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