BULLS star Dan Fleming is looking forward to crossing swords tomorrow with close pal Luke Ambler – who doubles up as his boss!

Fleming is hoping to feature for Wales in their final European Championship match with Ireland, for whom Halifax prop Ambler should be playing.

The pair are good mates, having grown up together in Halifax, and Fleming is now working on a part-time basis as a personal trainer in Ambler’s FaxFit gym in the town.

“I’m really looking forward to hopefully coming up against Luke,” said Fleming, who has played in both Wales’ matches in the tournament so far, ahead of tomorrow’s clash in Wrexham.

“I’ve known him since I was eight or nine and we’re both Halifax lads.

“It’s going to be strange but I’ve played against him once before for Batley against Halifax.

“I think there will be a few bragging rights in the gym for whoever wins.”

The opposing prop forwards played for the same junior side in Illingworth but then went their separate ways before coming back into contact around a year ago.

Ambler said: “I love all Halifax lads doing well and had followed Dan’s progress at Castleford and Wales.

“I had seen him round and about but we came back into contact again about a year ago.

“It turned out that he had just done his personal training course and I had just opened my gym, so I offered him a job and he has done really well.

“He comes down and does a lot of classes for us. Being part-time at Halifax, we train in the evenings and I struggle to get down every night.

“Dan came down and did a few sessions on trial but he absolutely ripped it up and has really grown in confidence. All the clients love him.”

Ambler began his career at Salford and then moved to Leeds Rhinos before joining his hometown club ahead of the 2012 season.

Having spent the past three seasons at The Shay, he knows what life in the Championship is all about.

Ambler added: “Dan obviously had his injury at Castleford and it might not have gone the way he wanted it to but I’ve been in a similar position myself.

“But he will get a new lease of life at Bradford with Jimmy Lowes and Karl Harrison. I think they will instil their mental toughness and the aggression they had as players into Dan.

“I’ve played under Jimmy at Leeds and sessions were very good, plus I know Karl really well from our time together at Halifax.

“I class him a friend because he’s done a lot for me and I’ve had probably my best-ever season this year.

“That was under Karl, so I’ve got to thank him a lot for that. It’s a shame he had to move on but he has landed in a really good position at Bradford.

“I’m sure he will thrive in the full-time environment there and, with Karl being a prop himself, Dan will benefit from that as I did at Halifax.

“Dan is a bit of a worrier like myself but I’m sure Karl will change that and give him all the confidence he needs.”

Ambler will be passing the keys to his gym to Fleming after this weekend’s game.

He said: “I’m on holiday from Monday, so straight after the game I’ll be off to the airport and Dan will be taking control of the gym.

“He better not get into me too hard this weekend, otherwise I’ll have to give him his P45!”