Bradford Bulls coach Matthew Elliott headed off for the Canaries with his squad today insisting: "The battle for places begins here."

A 30-plus party including players, coaching staff and club physio Gary Slade will spend a week at the Club La Santa training complex in Lanzarote as the Bulls' preparations for Super League V go into overdrive.

"It is certainly no drinking binge in the sun, despite what people may think," said Elliott.

"The whole week is structured from start to finish. We don't have time to waste because some big challenges are ahead.

"I will be giving an opening address and be outlining just what the aims are for the season and what is expected of the players.

"Some players will also be giving lectures on specific topics and it really is a great way to start focusing minds.

"The players will be monitored in everything they do and it gives them the chance to set down a marker for the start of the season."

Teenagers Robert Parker, Gareth Handford, Paul Sykes and the most recent recruit Alex Wilkinson are included in the party and Elliott believes the trip will be of particular benefit to them.

"I took Leon Pryce with us two years ago and everyone has seen what has happened to him since then.

"It gave Leon a taste of what was required and it set him on a steep learning curve which culminated in what we saw last season."

Elliott has been pleased with the way things have gone in training so far but says the climatic conditions will take their preparations on to another level.

"The weather hasn't actually been too bad over here and we have always been able to do our work outside.

"But the climate in Lanzarote lends itself much more to training and we also have use of some world class facilities.

"Another advantage is that the coaching staff, conditioner and physio will have access to the players for 12 hours a day and that gives us chance to sort out any niggling troubles.

"By the time we get back at the end of next week we will be raring to go in the warm-up game against Wakefield (Sunday, February 6)."

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