Widnes ready for Bulls bluff

Widnes believe that Bradford are bluffing with the number of players they claim could be missing from this afternoon's Powergen Challenge Cup quarter-final.

The Bulls listed 10 players as highly doubtful earlier this week – plus the suspended James Lowes – and say they will run a series of fitness tests this morning. Among those in doubt are Leon Pryce, Robbie Paul, Paul Deacon, Lesley Vainikolo and Tevita Vaikona. But one former Bull, Stuart Spruce, speaks for a sceptical Widnes camp when he says that he expects to face a near full-strength side at the Halton Stadium.

Even so, the Bradford coach, Brian Noble, pulled several players out of the under-21 team on Thursday night to be on standby.

Widnes will still be without virus victim, Ryan Sheridan, with Dean Lawford continuing at scrum-half.

Hull have had to contend with a flu bug during their preparation for tomorrow's tie at Leeds. Chris Chester, Adam Maher and Sean Ryan have all been bed-ridden. "It's been a concern,'' their coach, Shaun McRae, said. "We will see whether they are able to train on Saturday [today] and hope that they are the last to be affected.''

Leeds' hopes of resigning their former player, Adrian Morley, from the Sydney Roosters, have taken a knock with his present club claiming that the Great Britain second-rower will stay with them for less money. Morley is in the last year of a three-year contract and has said that, if he returns to Britain, it would be to Leeds.

"It could be a problem, because they are offering him a lot of money,'' the Sydney chairman, Nick Politis, said. "But he'll stay for less. We want to keep him and he wants to sign.''

The north Manchester neighbours, Salford and Swinton, were due to play each other today in the Arriva Trains Cup, but neither will be too upset that they are otherwise engaged in the Challenge Cup.

Salford, relegated from Super League last season, are back in the big time for their home tie against St Helens, who are likely to be without Paul Sculthorpe.

Swinton, now of National League Two, have an even more formidable task, having switched their tie against Wigan to the JJB Stadium.