Bradford Bulls have secured a hastily-arranged friendly with Challenge Cup holders St Helens, now that both sides have been knocked out of this year's competition.

Full strength sides from the two clubs, who have met in the last two Wembley finals, will line up at Odsal this Sunday (3pm).

Saints are expected to have new signings Damion Smith, an Aussie from former Bulls coach Brian Smith's old club St George, and Paul Davidson , who joined from Oldham during the off-soason, in their line-up.

Admission prices for the ground will be £6 (adult), £3 (child) and for the stand £9 (adult) and £4 (child).

Meanwhile, Bulls coach Matthew Elliott has confirmed that he made an enquiry about bringing Great Britain centre Jon Roper to Odsal - but says the matter is now dead.

In recent weeks the Bulls have been linked with a series of top names as they prepare to defend their Super League crown in 1998.

Elliott is particularly keen to strengthen his squad with more three-quarter talent but has refused to reveal the identity of the players he is interested in.

However Warrington Wolves coach Daryl Van de Velde claimed over the weekend that the Bulls had made an approach for the 21-year-old Roper, before dismissing the offer as 'peanuts'.

After hearing that news of the Bulls interest in the powerful international had been made public, Elliott said: "We made a general enquiry about the player but that was a couple of weeks ago. It was no big thing and the matter is now dead.

"This has not come out from our end. It is not annoying but we deliberately did not contact the player as we didn't want to disrupt him. As far as we are concerned it is finished.

"We have made some quiet enquiries about a few players but that is all they have been. I would just like people to know that we conduct our business in a creditable manner."

Cumbrian Roper joined Warrington five-years-ago from amateur club Hensingham.

The Bulls kick off the defence of their Super League championship with a visit to Huddersfield Giants on Friday April 3.

They have been linked with a series of top players from both rugby league and union including England's Will Greenwood and Welsh duo Gareth Thomas and Allan Bateman, the former Warrington man.

Widnes' Danny Myler is another who has been linked with the Bulls but Elliott says he will not be rushed into a deal which is not right for the Odsal club.

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