ST HELENS coach Mick Potter is in the frame to become the new boss at Bradford after Harlequins’ Brian McDermott ruled himself out for the job.

McDermott, who made over 250 appearances for the Bulls during a nine-year career at Odsal, was thought to be leading the race to replace Steve McNamara when he assumes full-time responsibility for the England side at the end of the season.

But ahead of Harlequins’ clash with Bradford tonight, the 40-year-old stressed he remains committed to seeing out his contract with the London outfit.

McDermot said: “The reality is I’m contracted to the Quins and the reality is that I’m not going to Bradford.”

“So what I’d like to do and what may be, and what’s happening in the future is almost irrelevant.

“I’m contracted to Quins and unless something changes down here and something dramatic happens, that won’t change.

“So speaking to anyone who listens, you have to believe that while I’m here I’ll continue to give the club everything I’ve got and hopefully enthuse the players to do as much.”

McDermott’s stance means the Bulls are now likely to turn their attentions to Potter.

The 46-year-old Australian, who announced earlier in the year that he would be leaving the Saints at the end of the season to search for a job in his homeland, has, along with McDermott, been linked with the post ever since McNamara was announced as the England boss in April.

Potter, who is expected to be replaced at St Helens by current Australian number two Royce Simmons, has previously worked for Bradford, serving as an assistant to former coach Matthew Elliott from 1996 to 1999.

St Helens face the Catalans Dragons knowing a win is needed to maintain the pressure on Wigan and Warrington at the top of the table.

Last Saturday’s harsh defeat at Leeds cost Mick Potter’s men in their bid to close the gap on the leading duo, but they have an immediate chance to get back on track against the league’s bottom side.

Potter is not expecting an easy game against his former employers, though, as they begin to adjust to having a number of their key players back from injury.

“The win is important for both sides as they want to close the gap on the teams above them and we want to bounce back and keep in touch,” he said.

“In Clint Greenshields and Casey McGuire, alongside the return of Thomas Bosc, they have plenty of options in attack and we will need to be on our guard.”

Wigan will look to put six points between themselves and second-placed Warrington with a win over lowly Salford at the DW Stadium.

Former Reds prop Andy Coley is suspended for the Warriors and their coach Michael Maguire has told his men not to take any notice of Salford’s standing in the table.

“Everyone is getting excited about this time of year,” he said. “We’re getting towards the end of the marathon but we need to make sure we keep playing the way we have.

“Salford beat St Helens recently and we need to make sure we do our homework, our preparation and get things spot on.”

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan believes that Wigan rookie Josh Charnley can cope with being thrown in at the deep end by the Robins as they look to do the double over reigning champions Leeds.

With centres Michael Ratu and Jake Webster both set for lengthy spells on the sidelines and Kris Welham also out, Morgan has signed 19-year-old Charnley on a month’s loan from the league leaders.

Morgan said: “We’re likely to throw him in although we’ll make our final decision before the game.

“I’ve watched him in academy footy and he comes with a good seal of approval from Wigan.”