Jacob Fairbank has joined the Bulls on an initial one-month loan deal and is poised to make his debut tomorrow night against Salford.

The Huddersfield forward – nephew of the legendary Bradford Northern prop Karl Fairbank – has bolstered the Bulls’ ranks following the loss of Manase Manuokafoa for up to seven weeks with a fractured thumb.

Adam Sidlow is also nursing a shoulder problem ahead of the trip to his former club tomorrow, while Jamie Langley has missed the last three games with a groin injury.

Both men were yesterday included in the 19-man squad and will be assessed closer to kick-off but Fairbank, who comes from a large rugby league family, looks certain to feature.

The 23-year-old, known as ‘Bobby’, made a handful of Super League appearances for the high-flying Giants at the start of the year but has since found it hard to force his way into Paul Anderson’s side.

Bulls coach Francis Cummins is delighted to have secured the services of the Halifax-born forward, who can operate in the front and back row.

“I’ve been enquiring about the availability of players for most of the year,” said Cummins.

“I was on the phone to Paul Anderson at Huddersfield and an opportunity arose to sign another running forward in Jacob.

“He’s in that same mould as the rest of our players whereby he is trying to build a career.

“Unfortunately, he couldn’t get in at Huddersfield but there is an opportunity for him here to come and do a great job for us, then force his way back in there or get an opportunity here or somewhere else.”

Fairbank is under contract to the Giants until the end of 2015 and comes from a large rugby league family.

The most famous was his uncle Karl, an uncompromising forward for Bradford Northern and Great Britain.

His grandfather, Jack, was an equally tenacious member of the first Leeds team to win a Championship in 1961.

His father Mark played with Keighley, while uncles John (Leeds/Oldham) and Dick (Halifax) are other members of the illustrious dynasty.

Cummins added: “He certainly comes from a great rugby league family, and his uncle Karl was an absolute legend here at Bradford, so I’m sure Jacob feels a little bit of pressure.

“But like I’ve said to him, he’s his own man and has to map out his own career.

“His attitude is very positive and the good thing about Jacob is that he worked as a joiner when he left school, so he knows what real life is all about.

“He knows the sort of life you can enjoy in professional sport, so he appreciates the opportunity he has here. He’s in line to play against Salford tomorrow night.”

After it was announced yesterday that Jamie Foster had signed a new two-year deal, Cummins confirmed more players would put pen to paper in the coming weeks.

The Bulls boss is scouring the market for new recruits as he seeks to build his squad for the 2014 campaign.