Bulls boss Mick Potter has a simple message for his young guns: the fight is on.

Bradford’s next generation of Super League stars head to Keighley tonight with some catching up to do in the race for a first-team spot.

Experience could dominate early-season selections but Potter expects youth to mount a serious challenge, starting with a test against Jason Demetriou’s ambitious Cougars.

“The younger players are going to take a longer time than the more established blokes to get up to speed,” said Potter.

“Those experienced guys have already done the hard yards to establish themselves, so they get first crack. It’s up to the younger players to prove they deserve a place.

“I’ve been very pleased with Tom Burgess, Tom Olbison and John Bateman, while Vinny Finigan had a good game against Dewsbury.

“I’m not taking anything away from the other guys though because I’ve been pleased with all of them.”

The Bulls were forced to fast track several rookies into Super League last year, with five players handed first-grade debuts as their senior counterparts were laid low by injury.

But greater strength in depth – the result of a serious off-season recruitment drive – means Potter can afford to be more selective when blooding young talent.

“I just think they had a skinny squad last year,” said the Bulls coach.

“I watched the last few games, given I knew I was going to be here, and the players were trying their hardest.

“But they were playing young guys who were dead on their feet from playing too much and probably shouldn’t have been put in that position.

“It’s good to bring young guys in and play them for a couple of games but then they need to go back and play 20s because physically they’re not ready to play a whole season.”