Bulls skipper Graeme Bradley will call on his vast experience tonight in a bid to side-step the retirement trap door.

The 34-year-old Aussie, who has played such a key role in the club's recent success, knows better than most what it's like to come from outside the top three and reach the Grand Final, having achieved the feat with both Penrith and St George in Australia.

Now he is eyeing up an unlikely hat-trick starting with victory at St Helens tonight as the season reaches a gripping climax.

"The beauty of coming fourth or fifth is that, if you win your first game, you're playing against a losing side each week," said Bradley.

"The momentum and emotion builds up and so does the confidence if you keep winning. If you can keep on going and providing you don't get too many injuries, anything is possible."

Defeat tonight will bring an end to an illustrious career on both sides of the world and Bradley knows it will take a mighty effort to keep his Old Trafford dream alive.

"St Helens' attacking potential is enormous and their defence has really improved over the last few weeks," he admitted.

"It's just a matter of us gelling together. We've put some good performances in. We've just got to try and produce one of those tonight."

Coach Matthew Elliott was making some final checks today on key players, with Nathan McAvoy joining the doubtful list with shoulder trouble.

Jimmy Lowes was seeking further medical advice on whether he can return after concussion, but the combative hooker is determined to play if at all possible.

Mike Forshaw completed a full training session yesterday, but faces a test today on his damaged ankle.

But Brian McDermott app-ears to be losing his battle against a knee injury.

"It's not ideal with so many players in doubt, but the spirit is excellent and we feel we don't have much to lose," said Elliott. "No-one fancies us and Saints are probably looking through us to the next round already, but we may have something to say about that."

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