MATT Ryan has more reason than most to perform when the Bulls cross swords with Wakefield tomorrow.

The towering back-rower was ushered out of the door at Belle Vue last month and left searching for a new club.

Bradford handed him a lifeline with a deal until the end of the season and he impressed off the bench on his debut against Sheffield last weekend.

Now he has the Wildcats in his sights as Jimmy Lowes' men bid to boost their promotion prospects further.

"I saw that it was Wakey away in week two when the fixtures came out," said Ryan.

"It's going to be fun – but you just need to put all that stuff to one side and hopefully we can get another win.

"It's just another game, which is going to be crucial, so I can't focus on one team more than the other."

It certainly should be fun and games this weekend in the Wakefield apartment that Ryan shares with Wildcats prop Scott Anderson.

"I've given Scott a few nudges this week, just to get inside his head and put him off his game," joked Ryan.

"It has been a bit awkward but I've done that in Australia, living with a room-mate who I had to play against, so I've got some experience of it."

Ryan enjoyed a fine season at Belle Vue last term and had featured regularly this year, so he knows what to expect from his old team.

The 27-year-old former Parramatta star said: "Timmy Smith runs the team and Jacob Miller is having one of the best seasons he's had for a while.

"They've got a solid forward pack, so it will be a tough game for us – but if we stick to our structures, then I don't think they will be able to handle that."

Ryan enjoyed himself off the bench against Sheffield and said: "It was good to blow away a few cobwebs.

"I felt a bit fatigued, as I hadn't played for a few weeks, but it was good to get that first game under my belt and get the win.

"When we stick to our structures, we look good, but we've just got to do that for the whole 80 minutes.

"We can't be stop-start and we need to build on the Sheffield victory in these next few games."

Ryan is aiming to seal a contract for next year and said: "The plan is to finish this year strongly and then hopefully something will come up for next season.

"I'm not really worried about it at the moment because we've got a job to do – and that's to get Bradford back into Super League.

"I just want to get in the 17 each week, prove a point and help the team.

"I thank Jimmy for the opportunity to come to the club in the first place and I have to repay him.

"I tried to play some good footie last weekend and I was happy to be in the 17. It was a good atmosphere at Odsal and hopefully our fans can travel in numbers to Wakefield."

Ryan's determination to succeed is fuelled by his desire to honour the memory of two of his closest friends who he lost.

"I've got two mates who have passed away in the past two years and I play for them," he explained.

"My best mate was caught up in an accident in Australia and passed away last year.

"There are four or five of us who wear wristbands with his name on, just so we know that he's still with us."