RYAN Shaw is hoping to erase a few painful memories of his previous tussles with Featherstone and also stake a claim for regular Bulls action.

The 22-year-old Cumbrian is in line to face Rovers on Sunday with Harry Siejka starting a two-match ban and Danny Williams serving a one-game suspension.

Bulls head coach Jimmy Lowes could put Jake Mullaney in the halves alongside Lee Gaskell and deploy Shaw at full back, where he came off the bench to play against Whitehaven last weekend.

Shaw had been 18th man for the Championship opener at Leigh but is now aiming to stay in Lowes' plans.

The former Warrington man said: "Hopefully I will get picked this weekend because it could be a good opportunity to cement a place in the team and that's certainly my goal.

"I thought I gave a pretty good account of myself in the two pre-season games – but it's Jimmy's team and he picks it.

"You've got to take any chance that comes your way and hopefully I'll get my shot again this weekend and prove what I can do.

"I enjoyed coming on at full back against Whitehaven and it was better than sitting on the bench in the freezing cold.

"I've got some things to improve on, and I'll work on them in training, but hopefully I'll be given another shot this week."

Shaw's versatility should serve the Bulls well this year as he can play anywhere across the backline.

He said: "I don't mind playing on the wing and have played most of my rugby in the centre. We've got about five or six centres here, though, so I probably see my best way into the team as a wing/full back.

"That's where I've played some of my best rugby and I like it there because you can link up with players on both sides of the pitch.

"I think my versatility is what helped me get a spot on the bench last week – it's a good way of me getting into the team."

If, as seems likely, Shaw plays this weekend, he will be out to put the record straight against Featherstone.

Last season, Shaw played on loan for Barrow against them, with Rovers winning both games and putting a combined total of 100 points on the Cumbrian team.

Shaw, who scored tries in both games, recalled: "We got taught a bit of a lesson and I played full back in one of those games and made over a dozen tackles.

"Fev are always a tough team to play against and they have signed Paul Wood and Garreth Carvell, who are really good, experienced players.

"I know them well from my time at Warrington and they're good lads. But Featherstone are always a tough team to play against anyway.

"The year before last, I played against Featherstone for Swinton and that pitch at the Big Fellas Stadium is difficult.

"They've got a really tough pack, so I'd imagine Sunday's game will be pretty similar to our opening match at Leigh. It'll be physical but hopefully I can be involved."