JOHN Kear can’t wait to send the Bulls “big-game hunting” next season.

The unveiling of the Championship fixture list has added an edge to their preparations at Tong as the countdown begins.

Seeing names like Widnes and Toronto on the schedule, as well as a Summer Bash showdown with Halifax, has got the juices flowing among Kear’s squad.

He said: “Everybody got a taste of it with that play-off final at the end of last year.

“We’d love to be in further big games and we’re going to be. It’s nice to see that we’re going to be the feature of the Summer Bash.

“And there are obviously big games to be played for as well. We’ll be playing for the latter stages of this 1895 Cup and for the play-offs.

“I think seeing the fixtures out now for next season has whetted the appetite and, working with this group, hopefully we can use that as a driving force to achieve.”

Kear is excited to be hosting their Championship curtain-raiser when Featherstone come to Odsal on February 3.

“It’s great to be at home first and it’s a cracker,” he added.

“Featherstone are always well supported. They are very loyal fans, the ‘flat cappers’, and they’ll be coming along in their numbers.

“It’s a challenge to us as well. I just think it will be a tremendous start and can get the season off to a flier.”

The Bulls will break new ground with a first trip to play in Canada – as well as returning to the south of France to face Toulouse.

But Kear also issued an early reminder that the top-five goal won’t be achieved by only focusing on the glamour trips.

He said: “There are lots of highlights but we can’t just concentrate on them.

“Going over to Toronto and Toulouse is exciting but you still have to go to places like York, Barrow and Batley. They are worth the same two points.

“They might not have the glamour but if you want to do well in the league, they are the games you’ve got to pick up.”