BRIAN McDermott is predicting a “fascinating” battle for promotion this year and reckons Bradford stand a good chance of beating the bottom four sides in Super League.

The Leeds boss is looking forward to crossing swords with his close pal and former Bulls team-mate Jimmy Lowes in Jamie Peacock’s testimonial at Headingley tomorrow.

The ex-Royal Marine has backed his old club to push hard to make an immediate return to the top flight – although he stopped short of declaring them as promotion certainties.

McDermott said: “There is no doubt it will be an intense game this weekend and we will get a fair bit out of it for our pre-season.

“There is also the link that JP has with the Bradford Bulls and it’s a great testimonial to have from that perspective.

“Of course, we don’t play Bradford this year unless we draw them in the Challenge Cup.

“I’ve watched the dvd of their recent friendly at Castleford and they will be up there this year (in the Championship).

“I don’t think they will be too much of a lesser team compared to last year.

“Whether Jimmy gets them straight back up I don’t know, but certainly he will get them to a position where they will be very competitive.”

There has been no shortage of opposition to the restructuring of the game with Lowes a vehement critic of the new format when it was rubber-stamped last year.

But McDermott, who was assisted by Lowes at Leeds before the Bulls boss took the reins at Leeds Carnegie, insists his old club have a decent opportunity to reclaim their place among the elite.

McDermott added: “It’s going to be really interesting because the more you think about the bottom four in Super League playing the top half in the Championship, the more fascinating it sounds.

“People dismissed the idea when it was first announced but we know that the top four sides in the Championship are very good teams.

“The bottom four sides in Super League will be without momentum and lacking in confidence when the Super Eights come around.

“They will be used to losing and they will be under pressure as well.

“It’s going to be really fascinating and I think if Jimmy can get Bradford anywhere near that top four then they will have a chance against any of those bottom four Super League sides.

“They have got a good nucleus and Jimmy is a fantastic coach. He’s a great motivator and he will have them up for it, no doubt.”