Harris' contract with Bradford expires at the end of this season

The Bulls claim Leeds are suing after Harris's decision to join them on his return from rugby union in 2004.

The two clubs have already spent in excess of �500,000 on legal fees and Bradford are preparing for a week-long battle in the High Court next year.

"If we had to pay �3.2m within 14 days, we could not do it," admitted Bradford chairman Peter Hood.

"We are not Manchester United. We don't deal in millions of pounds here and don't have that sitting in the bank."

Asked whether it would threaten the future of the club, Hood said: "Yes."

The tug-of-war between Bradford and Leeds started when former Leeds skipper Harris, now 31, joined the Bulls in 2004 after leaving the Cardiff rugby union team.

We are confident when it comes to the trial we will succeed Bradford chairman Peter Hood

In July 2005, a High Court judge found Harris guilty of failing to honour a clause in his contract which gave the Rhinos first call on his services as a league player.

"Our legal team says we should prepare for a seven-day trial in the High Court in London in the second quarter of next year," Hood told a Bradford fans' forum.

"That would be absolutely horrendous and dreadful to contemplate because of the costs and litigation risk but that is where we seem to be heading. The juggernaut has set off.

"The only thing that could stop this case is if the claimant - Leeds - chose to stop it."

The Rhinos are claiming the huge sum in lieu of a transfer fee as well as lost merchandise potential and ticket sales that Harris's return could have provided.

Leeds won the Super League title and reported massive receipts the year Harris returned to league, and Hood said: "How can they have lost out when the rest of the time they were saying how well they'd done? You can't sell the same seat twice.

"We expect to go to court and win. It is a major problem in the background for us but we are confident when it comes to the trial we will succeed.

"Even if we don't, we don't believe Leeds will be able to claim such damages."

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington, who initiated the proceedings against Harris and Bradford said he anticipated a High Court hearing would be held this year and not in 2009.

He said: "While the matter is going through the legal process, we agreed there would be no comment. All I can say is that we are expecting some developments in the not too distant future."