Bradford coach Mick Potter is preparing to take a risk by throwing former London Broncos half-back Luke Gale into Saturday's Carnegie Challenge Cup tie at Warrington.
The 23-year-old goalkicking scrum-half has been sidelined for the last two months after damaging ankle ligaments just three games into his Bulls career, but he is poised to return for the all-Super League fifth-round clash.
"There's a risk but he's potentially a player that can turn a match for you," said Potter.
"He's probably a little bit under-done and it's one of those options you have to weigh up - what's good for the team and what's good for Luke Gale.
"At this stage the signs are that it's maybe a risk we need to take.
"It was unfortunate when the injury occurred because he was just getting better and better and starting to work some combinations with the players around him.
"He was starting to find his feet and it would be great if he can come back into the team."
Gale, a former Leeds academy player who began his professional career at Doncaster, was snapped up by Bradford on a two-year deal after impressing during three seasons in the capital and was beginning to catch the eye when he sustained his injury.
"There's never a good time to get an injury but mine came just three games in," he said.
"I was just getting to know the team and getting to know my half-back partner so it was tough but you've got to come back stronger.
"I've had eight weeks off now and I'm raring to go. I trained today and everything went okay.
"I've a few little tests to do but hopefully I should by okay. I can't wait to get back on the field.
"It's a great game to come back into. I know Warrington are a good side but we've got some troops back and we're looking forward to it."
Potter had just 18 senior players available for last Sunday's league game against Huddersfield and he lost Australian three-quarter Adrian Purtell in that match with a hamstring injury.
However, hooker Heath L'Estrange has completed a two-match suspension and full-back Brett Kearney is rated a 50-50 chance of recovering from injury.
"We've got 19 so we're doing okay," said Potter. "It's pleasing to have a player or two back."
Warrington will have prop forward Garreth Carvell back from a two-match ban and coach Tony Smith will make a late call on skipper Adrian Morley, who has missed the last two games with a neck problem, and hooker Michael Monaghan, who has been sidelined for a month with a knee injury.
Scrum-half Gareth O'Brien will continue to deputise for Richie Myler, who is out with an abductor strain.
Many eyes at the Halliwell Jones Stadium will be on Bradford's promising back-row forward John Bateman, who has reportedly been the subject of a bid from Warrington amid speculation the Bulls may be forced to sell players to ease their financial crisis.
Potter is confident that will not happen and that his club can hang on to the talented teenager, who has a year left on his contract after this season and has put on hold talks over a new deal.
"Warrington have expressed interest but I think the club has declined it," he said.
"So it's end of story for me and it's a good thing for the club that you can keep all your good young players."
Smith admits to be an admirer of Bateman, who captained England's academy team against Australia last autumn and has figured in nine of Bradford's 13 league and cup matches so far this year, but denies any knowledge of a bid.
"He's a good young player," he said. "I think anybody who has seen him play can see he's got good strength.
"We get linked with everybody. I think agents use us in a big way when anybody is being shopped around.
"There's no doubt we have been in for some good young talent in recent times with our owner who is prepared to pay fees, but if there is anything in it, I don't know about it."
Meanwhile, Potter says it is business as normal for his team as the club continue their off-field fight for survival.
"I talk to (chief executive) Ryan Duckett just about every day and nothing has changed since we spoke last," he said. "It's business as usual for me."
The next step in the saga could come on May 23 when Bradford chairman Peter Hood is expected to face a vote of no confidence at an extraordinary general meeting.
