BULLS head coach Jimmy Lowes is adamant that tomorrow's clash with Hull KR will not be an indicator of his team's promotion prospects.

Lowes' men go into the Challenge Cup fifth-round tie on the back of nine successive wins, encouraging hopes of toppling Super League opposition.

Dumping Rovers out of the famous competition would serve as a ringing endorsement of the Bulls' top-flight credentials ahead of the Super Eights.

Yet Lowes is keen to play down the significance of the match against Chris Chester's men in the context of his team's chances of returning to the top flight at the end of the year.

The Bradford coach said: "This is completely different. It's the Challenge Cup and Hull KR are not a team we're going to be coming up against at the end of the year because they're too good a side.

"If people want to read it as a benchmark, then let them read it as a benchmark. I'm viewing it as a Challenge Cup game and that's the be all and end all – and nothing else.

"We want to have a good go at it and if we do, then we go into the next round. If we don't, then we won't, but it's not a benchmark at all."

Rovers have registered some notable results so far this season and Lowes admits he has been impressed with their progress.

Chester has blended his new signings together effectively and few players have impressed more than close-season recruits Terry Campese and Albert Kelly.

"They have got a very experienced player in Campese and some very quick players like Kieran Dixon at full back," said Lowes.

"Ben Cockayne is another fantastic player and plays with great enthusiasm. Albert Kelly is a very lively player and up front they're pretty strong as well.

"Shaun Lunt is a fantastic hooker, who I worked with at Leeds when we won the Grand Final. He did a great job for the Rhinos when he was there and he will certainly do likewise for Hull Kingston Rovers, as he has done so far."

Lowes admits former Bulls star James Donaldson will be relishing his return to Odsal this weekend. The Cumbrian played under Lowes when the legendary former hooker took the reins at the club last June.

Donaldson was keen to stay in Super League following the Bulls' relegation and Lowes had no problem with that.

The Bulls chief said: "James will be loving it this weekend and will be really looking forward to this game. He wanted to continue his career in Super League and he left the club on good terms.

"He's a good, hard-working lad and that's what I liked about him. We were disappointed that we lost him but that's the nature of the beast."

Lowes also praised Harry Siejka's impact on the team this season as he begins a lengthy period of rehabilitation after undergoing surgery this week.

"I think Harry has done a decent job right from the start of the season. It might not be the most glamorous of jobs at times but people probably don't recognise his organisational skills.

"What he has started to do on the back of his organisation is run and challenge the line, which is a strength of his. Unfortunately it was during that process that he hurt his ankle against London.

"We've lost him for ten weeks – but we'll have to crack on. We've got a squad to cover Harry's loss and that's what we will do."

Karl Davies has fully recovered from injury and is now aiming to get some game-time, while Dave Petersen is also looking to build up his match fitness after playing for Oxford on dual-registration last weekend.

Lowes said: "Karl's ready to play and we're just looking to find him a game now. Dave has been out for a long time and he won't be in contention this weekend as he needs more game-time before he's in line to play for us."