Catalans Dragons coach Kevin Walters believes his side will be fully focused on Saturday's Super League trip to Castleford despite the prison sentence hanging over the French club's captain Greg Bird.

The former Australia international was sentenced to jail for a minimum of eight months in a Sydney court on Monday for attacking his girlfriend with a glass in August 2008 although bail was later granted pending an appeal.

However, he remains in Australia ahead of a separate court hearing relating to a nightclub incident in 2008.

The 25-year-old was dumped from his NRL team Cronulla Sharks after last year's incident with his girlfriend and now plays with the Dragons.

"Apart from the fact he is not playing, it hasn't been much of a distraction," said Walters. "He's in Australia and we don't get too much of the news over here. In that regard it doesn't affect us too much."

Were the appeal against this week's conviction to be held at the end of the season - Catalans are hopeful that even if Bird is found guilty next week he won't face a custodial sentence - he could return to France to continue his rugby league career.

"I'm very concerned for Greg," said Walters. "I hope he gets justice from the legal system, I hope what should happen to him does happen to him.

"We're still hopeful he'll be back, but we're not saying he'll be back at a certain stage. We're just hopeful he'll be back at some stage."

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