Former Wigan player Lee Gilmour hopes to really show his worth this season with the Bulls after serving what he calls a 'mini apprenticeship'.

The 23-year-old started out as a back-row forward at the Warriors, but hopes to nail down the left centre berth for the Tetley's Super League and World Club champions.

Young Player of the Year in 1998, Gilmour firstly is happy merely to be in the starting 13 for the Bulls.

"Getting into any side in the top four clubs in Super League is very difficult with so many good young lads coming through," admits the Great Britain international.

"But last season was a big learning curve for me in my first campaign with the Bulls.

"And I see it not only as a great opportunity for me at left centre, but also the chance to repay the faith that Brian Noble has shown in me.

"If you like, I have served my mini apprenticeship and had some good experiences playing with some great players.

"But now I feel I have learnt the arts and crafts of playing in the centre and it is time for me to kick on and have a really good season."

Having played at Wigan for five of the last six seasons, the former Dewsbury Moor star admits to having "a slightly strange feeling" going back to the JJB Stadium with the Bulls.

However, he is quick to add: "My loyalties are 100 per cent with the Bulls, of course.

"But maybe it is because I will be trying just that little bit harder against my old club, where I spent two seasons in the juniors and three seasons at Super League level."

Gilmour, who feels for Great Britain international Paul Johnson - on the bench at Wigan after the arrival of Jamie Ainscough - is in no doubt though that he has made the right move in coming to Bradford.

"I could not be happier," said Gilmour, who was injured in the Bulls' 16-10 defeat at the JJB last August.

"I am enjoying my rugby a lot more, the right environment has been created for the players, and hopefully that will bring out the best in me."

He added: "I don't feel that Wigan have Bradford under some kind of spell at the JJB.

"But these are the kind of games that you need to win if you are going to finish top, and that is certainly the aim with the Bulls, despite the defeat in the Challenge Cup against Leeds. We played diabolically in the second half, yet were still in the game until the last ten minutes, so that gives us hope."