Sent off Bulls skipper Graeme Bradley will launch a determined battle to clear his name in a bid to face Wigan in Friday night's Super League showdown at Odsal.

Bradley will make a personal appearance before Thursday night's disciplinary committee following his dismissal for alleged use of the forearm on Warrington Wolves half-back John Duffy during the Bulls' shock 28-10 defeat at Wilderspool on Sunday.

Coach Matthew Elliott will support his skipper's claim that he was provoked by a series of high tackles from the opposition prior to the 25th minute incident which saw referee Russell Smith brandish the red card.

Bradley will use picture evidence from the Telegraph & Argus to support his claim as well as an admission from Mark Forster at the post match press conference that the influential Aussie had been a target for the Wolves attentions.

Elliott said: "I have looked at he video very closely and feel just the same as I did at the time of the incident.

"He put his arm up to protect himself and you could say that was clever in the light of what had gone on before.

"If you watch the incident he even copped a high tackle again immediately after the incident which led to his dismissal."

Bradley, 34, has not been sent off previously in his long career at the top in both hemispheres but Odsal officials feel he may be fighting a losing battle on Thursday because of his outspoken nature.

Aussie Bradley has been sin-binned on a number of occasions in his current spell in England but his only appearance before the disciplinary committee came last year when he was cleared after being put on report for an alleged high tackle on Warrington's Nigel Vagana in the corresponding match last season.

Meanwhile Elliott is hoping that Great Britain stars James Lowes and Shaun Edwards will be fit for Friday night's crunch encounter.

Lowes missed Sunday's game after withdrawing at the last minute with knee trouble while Edwards needed a pain killing injection is his sternum to enable him to get through the game.

"Jimmy was quite a bit better yesterday but Shaun's pain is pretty severe and he has to be a doubt at this stage."

Axed scrum-half Bobbie Goulding is to ask St Helens for a loan move to enable him to get back into the game and fight for his Great Britain place.

The 26-year-old Goulding is urgently seeking talks with club officials about his future after being omitted by Saints coach Shaun McRae.

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