Winger Ade Gardner, who suffered a rib cartilage problem against Hull and was initially expected to be out of action for two to four weeks, is now likely to be absence for up to six week due to the damage being more severe than originally thought.

New Zealand international centre Sia Soliola faces a three to four week spell on the sidelines after limping out of the weekend game with an ankle problem and just to add to Saints' tale of woe Chris Dean has picked up a shoulder injury.

The only pieces of good news to emerge from the GPW Recruitment Stadium are that prop forward James Graham only suffered bruising to the sternum during Saturday's Battle of the Roses and Kiwi winger Francis Meli is back in the camp after returning from Down Under following a family problem.

It means that coach Mick Potter will, among his options, have the opportunity to switch Gary Wheeler, who deputised for Meli against the Airlie Birds, into the centre berth vacated by Soliola and replace Gardner with either Tom Armstrong or Jonny Lomax for Sunday's tough-looking trip to Bradford.

It is, however, a far from ideal situation at such an early stage of the new campaign and means Potter will have to dig deep into his resources to cope with a demanding set of fixtures in front of him.

Like Saints, the Bulls will be smarting from losing their opening match at Huddersfield Giants, especially after intense activity in the transfer market during the close season, and will desperately keen to show their fans it is money well spent.

The signing of Aussie quartet, Matt Orford, Brett Kearney, Heath L'Estrange and Glenn Hall, signalled the Yorkshire club's determination to regain their place among the elite of Super League - having been crowned Grand Final winners in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and coming close on other occasions.

But they didn't gel initially against the Giants and Saints will be hoping their teething trouble continue at Odsal this weekend.