Mick Potter will not leave the Bulls’ young guns in the firing line.

So far, the Bradford boss has not hesitated in blooding talented juniors but remains wary of the need to strike a balance, particularly up front.

The average age of the forwards used in Friday’s defeat at Hull FC was a shade over 24, with teenagers James Donaldson and Tom Burgess both playing a major part.

Elliott Whitehead, 21, and 20-year-old Tom Olbison also featured and, although Potter refuses to wrap them up in cotton wool, he insists the Bulls’ up-and-comers require careful management.

“You’d like to make sure you limit what they do and their exposure to actually playing too much,” he said.

“That’s a case of some of them being able to handle it better than others. The coaching staff will keep an eye on it and manage it accordingly.

“Injuries play a big part. I don’t want to keep going back to it but when you run a skinny squad, you don’t have the luxury of being able to hold players back.

“You aren’t able to just give them short minutes or short spells of three or four games and then have a rest.

“When you run a skinny squad, you have to play them because you’ve got no-one else. Our squad’s getting tested right now.”

Last year the Bulls found themselves in the unenviable position of having to throw talented youngsters in at the deep end.

A spate of injuries coupled with the lack of experienced first-team cover meant Danny Addy, Steve Crossley, Vinny Finigan, Cain Southernwood and Joe Wardle were all handed premature debuts.

But a winter recruitment drive addressed the shortage of numbers and left Bradford better prepared for the current injury crisis. Still, Potter expects more from the players entrusted to step into the breach, with seven first-teamers currently sidelined.

He said: “I’m pleased in aspects but you always look for improvement. I know some of the guys have got more in them and have more to give.

“Contribution-wise, as a coach, you’re always after perfection but you understand young guys are going to make mistakes.

“You want the best all the time and they’re giving it effort-wise. There’s no lack of trying from anyone but we just want to keep upping the standards.”