“I feel sorry for Bradford” – that’s the warning from Deeside Dragons chief Lol Paul, ahead of Saturday night’s Laidler Conference clash with the Bulldogs at Chester Road (7pm).

The two teams meet just a fortnight after their last encounter in Yorkshire, when Bradford claimed a shock draw against the Dragons.

But with his side having beaten local rivals Widnes Wild 3-2 last weekend, Paul is confident they can put on a good display against Bradford on Saturday.

He said: “We’ve got Adrian Palak back playing well and Filip Supa is firing on all cylinders, as is James Parsons, so I feel sorry for Bradford this weekend.

“We have nine forwards who can put the puck in the net, which is great for a coach to see. In our rink, it will be our rules and I think they will be in trouble.

“The lads owe them big time. They’re flying at the moment and on a high. With a full squad for me to choose from, they’re all really looking forward to the game.”

That success against the Wild provided a useful confidence boost for Deeside, as they look to make up further ground on league leaders Nottingham.

Filip Supa battles for possession during Deeside Dragons' win over Widnes Wild
Filip Supa battles for possession during Deeside Dragons' win over Widnes Wild

Paul added: “We’ve only lost one game all season, against Nottingham, and if we win our two outstanding matches then we’ll be top of the league.

“Beating Widnes means we are three points ahead of them, instead of a point behind. You could see how much last week’s win demoralised their players.

“What pleases me most is the heart and character that the lads are showing. They all played for each other last week and stuck to the game plan.”

Deeside Ice Rink enjoyed its largest crowd of the season for the game against Widnes, with hundreds of fans from across North Wales packing the stands.

Paul has called for a similar atmosphere against Bradford, as he looks to build a fortress in Flintshire.

“The atmosphere last weekend was probably the first time this season we’ve felt that unique energy in the rink,” he said.

“When you’ve got a big crowd like that, it really passes down to the guys on the ice. We need that sort of following every week.”