Sam Burgess could yet play for the Bulls just hours after appearing for England in Paris.

It was widely expected the key forward would miss Sunday’s fixture at Warrington due to his international involvement on Saturday night.

But the club has taken steps to ensure he will be back in the country and available for a 3pm kick-off at Halliwell Jones Stadium if needed.

“Sam’s not out for us,” insisted Bulls boss Steve McNamara, who is set to include Burgess when he names his 19-man squad tomorrow.

“He’ll be flying back Sunday morning. Realistically, the game is at 9pm in France on Saturday night so it’s a huge ask for any player but we arranged his flight back early last week.

“We could have picked up five or six injuries against Wakefield last Sunday and so we thought it was the right thing to do.

“As it happens we got no injuries but now we still have the option of playing Sam.

“I’m not saying I will or won’t play him against Warrington by any stretch but he was keen to get back to be at our game regardless.

“He wants to be a part of the team and the group and I know Leeds are flying their players back too.”

Burgess backed up a year ago, helping Bradford to a 40-20 win over Hull KR 48 hours after playing 30 minutes against the French, but says this time he’ll “probably be running the water.”

McNamara has options to fill ever-present Burgess’ second row slot – Glenn Morrison is set for a return from injury and Matt Cook is also available having been dropped last weekend.

However, a decision isn’t likely to be made until the day of the game.

The Odsal boss can also call upon England Academy Elliott Whitehead, who made his brief debut in the win over Wakefield.

McNamara explained why he only handed the 19-year-old a few minutes action at the end of the contest.

“Of course I’d have loved Elliott to have some more game time; he was about to come on and had the card in his hand when Sam (Burgess) got himself sin-binned,” he said.

“It’s a strange situation for everyone to deal with when a game’s down to 12 men though and so I was certainly not going to throw him out there like that on his debut.

“We used Langers during that ten-minute period, obviously with his experience, but Elliott did get on, carried the ball three times in a short period of time and looked good.”

Meanwhile, England coach Tony Smith – who doubles up as Warrington coach – is also returning early in time to be in charge when they face Bradford.

Assistant Jimmy Lowes has been preparing them all week while Smith has been in France.

McNamara is continuing as England assistant following last year’s World Cup but opted against being in camp for Saturday’s Gillette Fusion international.

“I’m involved for the Four Nations at the end of the year but when I agreed the contract I said I don’t do it during the season,” he said.

“It’s not for me to leave the Bulls; I don’t go mid-season.”