Preview: Bulls v Wildcats (R27)

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats captain Monty Betham claims the Wildcats are ready to fight for their engage Super League lives in the crucial clash against Bradford Bulls at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal.

Victory, or even a draw, against the defending champions would keep alive Trinity?s survival chances and set up a last-day relegation decider against neighbours Castleford Tigers as long as the Tigers lose at Salford City Reds in a match that kicks off at the same time.

It looks a tall order but Betham, the former New Zealand Test captain who is in the first season of a two-year contract at Belle Vue, admits the incentives could hardly be greater.

"We?re looking to put in our best performance this week," he said. "It?s probably the most important game of our lives.

"You talk about Grand Finals and Test matches and that?s fine but, at the end of the day, you can walk away from them and think about them next year but we we can?t do that on Friday night if we lose.

"It affects the fans, the club and our families. We?re playing for our futures and everyone associated with Wakefield Trinity. They have got a proud history and I don?t want to be the one to let them down."

Wakefield have won two of their four matches under new coach John Kear to give themselves an outside chance of avoiding the drop and Betham is now desperately hoping they have not left it too late.

"John has come in and brought the best out of us," said Betham. "It?s a shame he didn?t come a bit earlier and it?s a shame some of the boys didn?t pull their finger out a bit earlier also but we?ve still got a chance."

Bradford are guaranteed to finish fourth but, after two defeats from their last three matches, they need to find some momentum if they are to make another charge for the Grand Final.

They will determined to bounce back after last week?s disappointing display at Wigan Warriors and long-serving prop forward Joe Vagana, another Kiwi international, insists they are preparing for a tough battle.

"Wakefield will be coming here very desperate," said Vagana. "Like Wigan last week, they know they have to win to keep top-flight rugby at Belle Vue.

"They know if they lose this week they are down and they will be well fired up here. They have nothing to lose and will be really desperate for the win."

It is only six weeks since Bradford cruised to a 42-20 win over the Wildcats at Belle Vue but Betham insists his side?s form under Kear have made them a much different proposition.

"We?ve played Bradford twice," he said. "The first time we were probably a little unlucky but the last time we were without a coach and without ideas.

"It?s totally different now. We?ve showed some good consistency of late and I believe we are a better side.

"John has brought a lot of direction and a hard-work ethic to the team and he is doing his homework and finding the right game plans against these good teams.

"He is giving us ammunition but it?s up to us. We?ve been close but not quite been performing for the 80 minutes. We were unlucky against Leeds and at St Helens we had it in the bag but fell away.

"There?s no doubt we?ve really under-achieved this year. When you look at the quality in the side and some of our performances, especially of late, we?re a very capable side.

"But you?ve got to go out there and perform and make things happen."

Wakefield are boosted by the return of Australian forwards Duncan Macgillivray and Ned Catic, while Bradford are without loose forward Jamie Langley for the first time this season because of a groin strain.

Bradford Bulls v Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Friday, September 8, kick-off 20:00

Bradford Bulls 18-man squad: Hape, Deacon, Vagana, Newton, I Harris, McKenna, Cook, Lynch, Meyers, B Harris, Withers, Ferres, Vainikolo, Henderson, St Hilaire, Pryce, Burgess, Bai.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 18-man squad: Halpenny, Demetriou, Tadulala, Jeffries, Obst, March, Korkidas, Solomona, Betham, Rooney, MacGillivray, Elima, Henderson, M Field, Catic, Atkins, Watene, Evans.

Referee: S Ganson

Source: superleague.co.uk