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Sykes: One-game ban

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Teams

• Bradford Bulls
• Warrington Wolves

Players

• Paul Sykes

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• Sky Sports experts

Friday night's Super League offering on Sky Sports sees two sides going in opposite directions clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

While Warrington seem to have found some form under Jimmy Lowes Bradford are struggling.

Steve McNamara's troops are only in sixth spot in the table due to their superior points difference over Wakefield and have suffered a worrying run of form.

Both teams will be eager to pick up two points as the jostling for positions inside the play-off places comes to a head in the closing weeks of the regular season.

Lowes, who is in charge of the Wolves until the end of the season, will likely play the same 13 which earned last week's 60-24 win over the Wildcats.

Nevertheless, Matty Blythe and Andy Bracek have both been added to the Wolves' squad.

Therefore, Mark Gleeson again misses out while Stuart Reardon, Paul Johnson, Steve Pickersgill and Chris Bridge are out for the rest of the campaign.

Since the departure of Paul Cullen Warrington have won four of their five fixtures under Lowes and now find themselves sitting pretty in fifth place.

Sykes appeal

Bradford welcome back captain Paul Deacon after a seven-match absence with a hamstring injury.

However, Paul Sykes is missing from their 19-man party after being handed a one-match ban by the Rugby Football League disciplinary committee.

Sykes was given the suspension after being sent off by referee Steve Ganson in the game against Huddersfield for using foul and abusive language.

Terry Newton escaped any punishment despite twice being put on report in the same fixture. However, the hooker is struggling to shake off an ankle injury.

Forward Andy Lynch is also facing a race against time to be fit and England international Sam Burgess is definitely ruled out with a shoulder problem.

In the absence of Sykes, James Evans is likely to switch from the wing, with Matt James, Matt Cook and Craig Kopczak recalled.

The Bulls have won just two of their last six outings in the engage Super League and were beaten by a late Chris Thorman drop goal for the Giants last time out.

Warrington squad: Hicks, Gleeson, King, Penny, Briers, Monaghan, Morley, Clarke, Rauhihi, L. Anderson, Westwood, V. Anderson, Parker, Grix, Riley, Bracek, Harrison, Cooper, Blythe.

Bradford squad: Cook, Langley, Halley, Vagana, Kopczak, Lynch, Harris, Newton, Evans, Platt, Solomona, Godwin, James, Feather, Jeffries, Tadulala, Finnigan, Deacon, Nero.