The Bulls will be the team to avoid in the play-offs, according to Heath L’Estrange.

The confident joint-captain reckons nobody will be too keen to face the Odsal outfit in a sudden-death scenario as they hit peak form at the crucial moment.

With three wins on the bounce, Mick Potter’s men have a first top-eight finish for four seasons in their grasp. The Bulls host Hull FC on Saturday before signing off with a trip to France to take on Catalan, knowing that four points would guarantee their place.

Having shrugged off the potential fatal blow of a six-point penalty for being in administration, the Bulls are timing their run – and L’Estrange insists that spells bad news for their other Grand Final chasers.

He said: “It’s a new season once you get in the play-offs. Everybody starts with a clean slate.

“There are no points involved; it’s knock-out city. We know we’ll be in the bottom half (of the draw) but anyone can win on their day.

“We’ve beaten three of the top five and played really well. The only one of the top three we haven’t beaten are Warrington.

“They are on our list – and it would be nice if we could do that at Old Trafford.

“But the other teams have been there for the last three or four years. We haven’t.

“We’ve got something to fight for as well as all the adversity we’ve had this year.

“That’s why people won’t want to play us.”

The Bulls have defied the pundits with their recent run of results despite the huge uncertainty surrounding their future.

L’Estrange admitted that the pitch was the best place to forget their troubles.

“It’s hard to put aside all the other stuff that’s going on with the coaches not getting paid and things like that.

“At training every day you know it’s there and it’s difficult at home because you have to sort out the family life as well.

“We all love to play the game but obviously you need to get paid. That’s why we are here.

“But when you’re in a game, all the boys can go out there and give it everything for 80 minutes without thinking about anything else.”