JOE Keyes is determined to forge a successful partnership with Dane Chisholm as he gears up for his long-awaited Bulls debut tomorrow.

The 20-year-old scrum half arrived from London Broncos almost two months ago but has yet to make a single appearance.

That will change in this weekend’s Championship Shield visit of Oldham when he dovetails with Chisholm in the halves.

Although Leon Pryce and Oscar Thomas are also on board for next term in that position, Keyes believes a strong display tomorrow can unlock the door to regular first-team rugby in 2017.

Keyes, a former England Academy player and current Ireland international, will take Lewis Charnock’s place alongside Chisholm tomorrow.

Keyes said: “Now Rohan has given me this chance, hopefully I can take it with both hands and cement a regular spot.

“Lewis has been playing really well in the last few weeks so I'm just going to do my best and see what happens in the rest of the year.

“I think I'm ready – I certainly feel ready and I'm looking forward to it.

“If I can build good combination with Chisholm and do well in the last few games of the season, building combinations with the hookers, then it's a good stepping stone for me next year.

“Chris is more off the cuff and plays with real flair, whereas I'm more of an organiser with a strong kicking game. I think we could work well together.”

Keyes played seven times in Super League for London but featured only four times this year following ankle surgery.

He asked to leave Andrew Henderson's men after finding himself down the pecking order at a club he had played for since the age of 12.

Keyes explained: “I played at London in early March and then I got injured and was out for 12 weeks.

“I then played one game for London Skolars against South Wales, so it has probably been three months since I’ve played but I've been training hard and working on my game a lot.

“When I first arrived here, Rohan told me to replicate what I do on the pitch in training all the time with 100 per cent intensity.

“Hopefully I can pick up a bit of form and show what I can do in the next few weeks now.”

Keyes lives with Adam O’Brien and is happily settled in West Yorkshire after signing a deal which ties him to Bradford for another two seasons.

The southerner added: “Everyone has made me feel really welcome up north and I’m loving it here.

“I get a bit of stick about my accent but I'm used to it now.”

Charnock, meanwhile, is due to leave Bradford at the end of the season when his loan from St Helens expires.

But head coach Smith refused to completely rule out bringing him back to Odsal next season as a potential hooker.

Smith said: “I really like Lewis and he's a really good to have around the group.

“He's tough, he competes hard and he listens to what you say and takes it on board.

“At the moment, with the additions of Keyes and Chisholm, it has made it hard for Lewis to get a spot here in the halves next season.

“But I also see Lewis as a chance of being a hooker, so he can play half and at number nine.

“Again, though, we've got a few people in that hooking role, so unless something changes there then it will be difficult to find a place for Lewis.”

Academy graduate James Bentley will make his debut off the bench tomorrow while Joe Lumb and Mitch Clark are back in the squad after injury.

Smith said: “We're looking for a more complete performance against what we expect to be a really physical and enthusiastic Oldham team.

“You will see a good style of rugby and I think people can see what we’re trying to do.

“We will play a bit but also roll our sleeves up and run hard as well. You will see a mix of that.”