Peter Hood today insisted the Bulls aren't fearful of major reprisals despite a second salary cap infringement.

Along with champions St Helens and Wigan Warriors, Bradford were today charged with breaching the cap during the 2006 season.

They have been ordered to face an independent tribunal next Thursday where they could be hit with an immediate four-point deduction and hefty fine.

Last year Wigan and Bradford were both deducted two points for overspending in 2005 and fined £50,000 and £25,000 (£15,000 of which was suspended for two years) respectively.

But chairman Hood maintains the club - who visit the Warriors in Super League tomorrow - aren't unduly alarmed by the announcement.

He said: "We are delighted that the tribunal has been set as soon as July 12 as the sooner the better in our eyes.

"We don't view it with any particular trepidation. We have a detailed response to enter it with, we're looking forward to getting it out of the way and that means soon everyone will know where they stand.

"Since March 2006 Bradford Bulls has kept the RFL in the picture as regards its salary cap position and has at all times co-operated fully with the compliance commissioner's investigation."

It is understood the Bulls will not fight the actual charge but see their overspend as an unavoidable technicality and hope to offer further mitigating evidence in a bid to escape any punishment.

They currently lie in second spot just two points adrift of leaders Saints, two in front of Leeds and eight ahead of fourth-placed Wigan.

Bradford's excess is believed to be actually less than last year but the minimum points penalty has since increased from two to four, with 12 points now the maximum.

Wigan are understood to be the side in most danger. They paid the Bulls a world record £440,000 fee for Stuart Fielden midway through last season and also forked out for Aussie scrum-half Michael Dobson to help fight off relegation fears.

Their expensive recruitment drive prompted instant questions and Castleford - who did eventually go down after finishing three points behind Wigan - will watch on intently. An eight-point deduction would see giants Wigan again fall to the foot of the Super League table but that will offer little comfort now to the Tigers.

One of the criticisms of the present system is that clubs guilty of breaches cannot be punished until the following season.

From next year the salary cap will be calculated under a live' system, whereby the financial implications of any new signing will be assessed before he can be registered.

Clubs are permitted to spend no more than half their income, up to a maximum of £1.7million, on players' wages and their accounts are audited independently on behalf of the RFL.

St Helens, who were fined for minor breaches last season, are also up before a tribunal next Thursday while Wigan face their hearing on Monday July 16.

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