Bulls coach Mick Potter believes the club’s injury absentees can open the door for other players to stake their claim.

After his squad was crippled by injury during 2011, Potter has again been hit by a raft of casualties before the campaign has even kicked off.

Back-rower Tom Olbison, 20, joined the walking wounded after surgery on a shoulder injury ruled him out for up to three months.

Manase Manuokafoa, Olivier Elima, Elliot Kear and Keith Lulia are all currently nursing injuries with the new season little more than a fortnight away.

Manuokafoa will definitely miss the opening month with a knee injury and Elima also looks likely to be out until late February.

Kear and Lulia, though, are aiming to be fit to face Catalan Dragons on February 5 as they battle back from a double hernia operation and a hamstring strain respectively.

Yet having signed seven new players during the winter – which could become eight should trialist Phil Joseph earn a permanent contract – Potter is satisfied that his squad can cope with the setbacks.

Assessing Olbison’s injury, Potter said: “Tom saw a specialist who told him he needed an operation on his shoulder to get it fixed up.

“It’s better to have it done now rather than leaving it and letting it deteriorate later in the year.

“It’s very disappointing for young Tom but that’s the game we are in unfortunately.

“We’ll now be without Manuokafoa, Elima and Olbison for the start of the season, plus Elliott Whitehead is banned.

“But those guys missing allows other people in the squad to stand up and show what they have got.

“We’ve got strength in numbers and we’ve got to show our quality with what we have got on the field.”