Wakefield Trinity Wildcats coach Richard Agar is hoping his players will be “chomping at the bit” when they return to action against Bradford Bulls in Stobart Super League tomorrow night.
 
The Wildcats, who began the season with a win over Widnes Vikings before losing at home to Hull KR, were inactive last weekend after their third-round fixture against Leeds Rhinos made way for the Heinz Big Soup World Club Challenge.

And Agar admits he is not sure what effect the enforced lay-off will have on his side.
 
“It can work both ways,” he said. “We’d have rather have kept playing because we feel we’re finding some rhythm and we’re learning about each other all the time.

“In the Hull KR game, there were a lot of positives for us. We went toe-to-toe with a physical demanding team and we knew we had opportunities to win the game.

“Having said that, they were very heavy conditions and it did have some impact on a number of players in terms of their calves and their groins.

“We’ve been able to freshen them up early in the week without rushing around at the back end of the week with preparation and hopefully we’ll have the boys chomping at the bit on Saturday.”

Wakefield were struggling near the foot of the table for most of last season, but Bradford coach Mick Potter has already noticed a marked change in their style of play under new boss Agar.

“They are playing with a lot of width and moving the ball around and making it tough for the opposition,” said Potter.

“They are coming up with inside plays from the outside and they are working the short side very well.”

The Bulls got off the mark at Castleford Tigers a fortnight ago, but are reeling from a crushing 54-16 home defeat by Wigan Warriors, and Potter admits the video of the match did not make for pleasant viewing.

“It wasn’t good enough,” he said. “The players tried their best but a lot of our efforts were misdirected.

“There was a lot of effort individually instead of working together and they got more frustrated as the game went on and that was reflected in the scoreline.

“It’s been a tough week in training, both on the field and with the video. The video doesn’t get any better with viewing - I have watched it about four times - but we need to look at it and work out what we need to do.

“We have had some disruption but we will work hard and, as players come back, we will be stronger.”

Former Wakefield half-back Ben Jeffries is poised to make his first appearance of the season for Bradford in place of Luke Gale, who is facing a lengthy lay-off after damaging ankle ligaments in the Wigan game.