Tevita Vaikona is desperate to take revenge on St Helens - and do so fully fit.

The flying Tongan winger was forced to play through the pain barrier at the end of last season but after a close-season operation he is hoping to be back for Friday's Super League opener at Knowsley Road.

He went under the knife within days of the Grand Final to repair damage to his Achilles heel and

he admits that he was not 100 per cent fit when the Bulls went down

19-18 to Ian Millward's men last October.

So he will be all the more determined to get out there and do some damage on the wings in just three days time.

"I can't wait to get playing again," said Vaikona, who was robbed of a place in the New Zealand Test side by the surgery.

"The last few games of the season were pretty tough with the injury and in the Grand Final I could not really do myself justice.

"I want to be fit for Friday and find out exactly how well I can do against them when I am at full strength.

"I have been feeling pretty good in training and can't wait to get back out there."

Vaikona, who may have finished top try-scorer last season were it not for his late-season injury, admitted he is not a good watcher of games and found it tough on the sidelines as the Bulls had run-outs against Castleford in a friendly and then Warrington in the Challenge Cup.

"It is a horrible thing when you are stuck watching and can't join in," said Vaikona, who has been rated 50/50 for the opening game of Super League VIII by the Bulls medical staff.

"I am a rugby player and all I want to do is play rugby. I have spent a long time thinking about what happened last year and I have targeted the St Helens game for my return and I am desperate to play again.

"But at the same time you must be sensible and I will only play if everyone here thinks that I am in a position to."

The Grand Final was also tough for other reasons, as Vaikona's house was broken into while he was in Manchester and irreplaceable rugby memorabilia was taken.

Despite a plea in the Telegraph & Argus, nothing has been returned and the Tongan admits that October 19 has gone down as one of his worst days.

"I want to put that all that happened that day behind me," he added.

"And I guess I don't have to worry about it happening again, as there is nothing left to steal!"