Bulls hooker James Lowes has a double mission at the Shay tomorrow - two league points and the better of his tussle with Great Britain rival Paul Rowley.

Victory over third-placed Halifax Blue Sox would give the champions top five hopes a major shot in the arm and that takes priority.

But Lowes knows a good personal showing would also boost his prospects of pipping Rowley for the GB hooking role to face the Kiwis in November.

"Paul is always a difficult opponent," admitted Lowes. "If you are not on top of your game he will cause you problems."

Lowes also has a high regard for former Leeds colleague Gary Mercer who began his career in England at Odsal.

"He seems to have found a new lease of life since he left Headingley. He is playing really well at the moment and will be looking to put one over on us, particularly me! They beat us in the last minute earlier in the season and we don't want them to do the double over us.

"We need a victory with Sheffield close on our heels and if we can reproduce the form we showed last week then I think we can beat them. That would go a long way to ensuring that we make the top five."

The Bulls will give a final test today to centre Nathan McAvoy who has been struggling with an ankle injury.But Matt Calland (back), Tahi Reihana (ankle) and Bernard Dwyer (knee) have not been named in a provisional 19-man squad.

Dywer was on crutches only a week ago and although he has made good progress Elliott has decided not to risk him.

Halifax are expecting their best-ever Super League crowd following the opening of their new South Stand which has increased capacity from 6,800 to around 10,000.

lHalifax have lined up a special entertainment programme featuring Emmerdale actress Malandra Burrows who will perform her new single. There will also be a Pulse roadshow and various giveaways. Coronation Street star Holly Newman, who plays barmaid Lorraine Horrocks, will officially open the new stand. The action gets underway at 4.00pm with kick-off at 6.35pm.

Bulls: (from) Spruce, Scales, McAvoy, Bradley, Vaikona, Paul, Deacon, Harmon, Lowes, McDermott, Knox, Forshaw, McNamara, Crouthers, Donougher, Fielden, Medley, Ekoku, Graham.

Blue Sox: (from) Bloem, Tuilagi, Powell, Pearson, Bouveng, Chester, Clinch, Harrison, Rowley, Skerrett, Mercer, Clark, Moana, Marns, Baldwin, Marshall, Hall.

Referee: John Connolly (Wigan).

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