Bradford Bulls will go derby crazy at Odsal in the opening weeks of the 1999 Super League campaign.

They kick-off their programme with a showdown against Challenge Cup holders Sheffield Eagles on Sunday, March 7 - four weeks earlier than last season to accommodate an expanded 30-match programme following the acceptance of Gateshead Thunder and Wakefield Trinity into the top flight.

And the home derbies will continue to come thick and fast with Leeds, newcomers Wakefield and Halifax all visiting Odsal before the end of April.

One of the highlights for Bulls fans is a potentially explosive Easter double with arch rivals Leeds the visitors on Good Friday followed by a visit to Ellery Hanley's new-look St Helens on Easter Monday.

The extra four games needed to create a 30-match fixture list are made up by repeating the first four rounds which gives the Bulls a second Odsal date against Rhinos on Sunday, September 5.

They have also landed four midweek games at home to London (May 12) and away to Sheffield (June 9), Huddersfield (July 7) and London (July 28).

Other key dates see Wigan the visitors on Sunday, May 23, St Helens on Sunday, June 27 and newcomers Gateshead on Sunday, August 8.

Thunder will face beaten Grand Finalists Leeds in their first Super League match. Reigning champions Wigan kick off the 1999 campaign with a home match against Hull Sharks on Friday, March 5, with Thunder taking on the Rhinos at the Gateshead International Stadium two days later. Both matches will be shown live on Sky TV.

In the season's fixture list, released today, the League's other newcomers, First Division champions Wakefield Trinity, are handed a local derby against Castleford for their baptism.

Opening round: Wigan v Hull, Gateshead v Leeds, Bradford v Sheffield, Castleford v Wakefield, Halifax v Warrington, London v Huddersfield, Salford v St Helens.

Highlights of the second round are a Grand Final repeat between Leeds and Wigan at Headingley and the return of Gateshead coach Shaun McRae to St Helens, both games to be televised.

League officials have yet to decide if the four additional fixtures will be taken "on the road" to promote the game in new areas.

The early start to the season is intended to facilitate a finish on October 9, enabling Great Britain to fit in a Tri-Series tournament in Australia.

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