Bradford Bulls are ready to make a raid on the First Division for new talent after an extensive Super League search proved fruitless.

Coach Matthew Elliott has declined to reveal potential targets but admits: "We are in the market for reinforcements to get us through a very difficult period.

"We have tried everything to bring in Super League players but it is just impossible at the moment. I hardly have 17 men available for Salford on Sunday and we need to bolster the squad in the short term."

Prop and centre would appear to be the positions causing most concern with Danny Peacock and Paul Anderson ruled out for the season and Brian McDermott facing at least two games on the sidelines after cartilage surgery.

Warren Jowitt is another casualty for the full campaign while Paul Medley (arm) is struggling to get clearance after damaging nerves in his arm - a side effect of suffering a broken arm in last year's World Club Challenge quarter-final in Auckland.

Sonny Nickle (neck) is already ruled out for Sunday while Matt Calland (hamstring), Shaun Edwards (sternum) and Andy Hodgson (ankle) are also doubts and if Jimmy Lowes is suspended tomorrow following his sending off Elliott would be minus ten of his official 26-man squad.

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