As the race for inclusion in Mick Potter’s plans gathers pace, Ian Sibbit can at least say he is already out of the starting blocks.

Sibbit played around 35 minutes in the Bulls’ opening pre-season friendly at Castleford, laying down a marker ahead of the big kick-off next month.

Now he wants to cement his place in Potter’s first-choice 17 ahead of the big kick-off against Catalan Dragons on Sunday, February 5.

Playing on Boxing Day was a novel experience for the back-rower, a relative veteran at 31, and one that he relished.

Although a mix-and-match Bulls side were beaten 28-18 at the PROBIZ Coliseum, the game was not without positives as a number of a promising youngsters took their opportunities with aplomb.

“I’ve been playing rugby league for a long time but that was the first time I’ve ever played on Boxing Day,” said the former Warrington and Salford man.

“It was good to blow the cobwebs off and, although it was a new experience for me, I enjoyed it.

“Training has been great but playing a game breaks up the pre-season a bit.

“You enjoy games a lot more so to get one under your belt is good.

“You can do all the training in the world but there is nothing like a match.

“It’s good for fitness and it’s good to get some combinations going.

“Although I only had a fairly short shift, it was great to get a run-out.

“As the friendlies go on, all the new signings can integrate for when the season starts.”

The Bulls looked decidedly rusty on Boxing Day as too many penalties were conceded, too few tackles were made, and not enough sets were completed.

Perhaps that was to be expected of a first hit-out of pre-season.

Potter could at least take plenty of positives from the performances of a clutch of young guns, such as Adam O’Brien, James Donaldson and John Bateman, And Sibbit, who arrived at Odsal from Salford before the start of last season, believes the future is bright at Bradford.

He said: “We have got some good youngsters at the club and if they keep working hard they will certainly be playing every week in Super League.

“Bradford has got a history of bringing through some cracking young players.

“Even when there were all the superstars with the likes of Shontayne Hape and Lesley Vainikolo, there was always a good selection of Bradford lads coming through with the likes of Leon and Karl Pryce.

“They have a history of bringing good players through and this year is no different.

“We’ve got a really big squad, which is good for competition for places.

“It’s also good for training as it means we can do a lot more game-related stuff because we have more numbers.

“There is nobody guaranteed a spot because there are three or four people for every position.

“You’ve really got to hold your hand up and do the business this year.

“Personally I just want to be in the 17 every week and the only way I’m going to get in the 17 is by working hard.

“That’s what I’m going to do and see what happens.”

Sibbit is impressed with the Bulls’ new recruits so far and has tipped winger Elliot Kear, who is currently recovering from a double hernia operation, to shine in 2012.

He added: “The new signings have looked good in training and I think it’s looking very positive for the start of the new season.

“I thought Elliot Kear did really well at the back end of last year.

“I was really impressed when we played Crusaders how strong he was and how good he was.

“Elliot and Koppy (Craig Kopczak) were Wales’ best players during the Four Nations and that bodes well for Bradford.”