Heath L’Estrange reckons “desperate” measures are powering the Bulls towards a top-eight finish.

Three straight wins have put them in pole position to make the play-offs for the first time since 2008.

The Bulls will clinch a berth with victories in their final two games of the regular season against Hull FC and Catalan.

Finishing in the play-offs would be an even more remarkable achievement since they were docked six points for going into administration.

L’Estrange, who has been in a rich vein of form, insists the desire to prove the critics wrong has been as strong a driving force as rewarding the long-suffering supporters.

The joint-captain and hooker said: “The boys have put in some outstanding effort because there’s a desperation to prove everybody wrong and give our fans something to cheer about.

“We trumped them with fans at Huddersfield. We probably had double their amount in the stands, which is unbelievable.

“But it’s not just because of what’s happened. The critics were putting us down from the start of the season saying we would come last.

“It’s something we have always wanted to do to show them and we’re even more desperate for it now after the six points were taken off.”

The Bulls face Hull FC a week on Saturday at Odsal , where they have not lost since being plunged into financial turmoil.

Since losing to Leeds in May, they have won five in a row on home soil. L’Estrange added: “We don’t think about that. We just go out and play to our game plan.

“You’ve seen in the last three or four weeks that we’ve become more desperate to win.

“Our halves have been amazing in the last few weeks and the forward pack deserve a mention because they fight it out for the whole 80 minutes.

“Myself and Disko (Matt Diskin ) praise them every time we go on a run. Everybody has really come together.

“It’s a little frustrating having this week off because we want to take that momentum into the Hull FC game. We’re fighting for our season.”