ROSS Peltier is ready to hit top gear for Jamaica and prove his class against Ireland and Wales in the next six days.

The Reggae Warriors face the Irish in Bray tomorrow and then tackle John Kear's Wales at Wakefield's Belle Vue next Friday.

For Bradford-born Peltier, a Jamaica regular, the matches afford him the opportunity to bolster his fitness levels further ahead of the start of pre-season training at Odsal next month.

The matches, which aid the host nations in their World Cup European qualifying preparations, will also mark the first time the Reggae Warriors have played accredited internationals in Europe.

Peltier will face fellow Bradfordian Craig Kopczak and new Bulls team-mate Phil Joseph next Friday as they are Wales captain and vice-captain respectively.

Boyhood Bulls fan Peltier has secured a dream return to his home-town club on a two-year deal from Keighley Cougars and has been training hard to get in tip-top condition.

"I played against Craig when Keighley played Wales last season, so it's great to come up against seasoned Super League players like him," said the 24-year-old prop.

"I think next week's game against Wales at Wakefield in particular will give me a good yardstick of where I am compared to other players.

"I was seen as more of a risk being signed by Bradford but this is a chance for me to show there is no difference at all.

"I'm feeling very fit and much lighter because I've lost a lot of weight.

"It will be good to play for Jamaica in these games before pre-season at Bradford starts and it will allow me to get valuable game-time under my belt.

"We've been sent our off-season fitness plans by Bradford, so I've been doing all those sessions but also training with Jamaica a few times a week as well. I'm feeling good."

Jamaica's clashes with Ireland and Wales have added significance in that it is currently Black History Month.

Peltier said: "Even though I was born in Bradford, I am connected to Jamaica through my parents and grandparents and I'm very proud to represent them.

"My mum went to school there for a while, so it's been a part of me all my life really.

"We used to go out there to see my grandparents but I've not been for a while since they passed away.

"To play rugby league for Jamaica and help them as much as I can makes me very proud.

"We've dropped down in the world rankings because we didn't have our strongest team available during mid-season.

"Hopefully we can start showing other nations what we can do because we've only ever really played America and Canada before now.

"Ireland are playing mainly domestic-based players to see if they can squeeze into their squad for their World Cup qualifiers.

"It will be a good test for us and good to see what level the Irish league is at.

"Playing Wales at Wakefield next week will be good because a lot of the Jamaica lads are based in Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield and Sheffield."

Omari Caro has not been named in Jamaica's squad as he recovers from a hamstring injury which disrupted the end of his season at the Bulls, but Jode Sheriffe of Keighley is included.

Former Bradford assistant boss Lee St Hilaire, who could join Matt Diskin at Batley next season, is Jamaica's assistant coach with Glenn Morrison the team manager.

London Skolars boss Jermaine Coleman is Jamaica's head coach and Dewsbury chief Morrison said: "It's been exciting coming into the Jamaican set-up.

"We have worked hard to get the boys together on several occasions in the last two months to train and create a good bond within the group heading into the games.

"We are looking forward to it and believe we can use the experience to continue the growth within the Jamaican international system.

"The boys have looked good at training and I hope we get a big following at both venues."