SAM Hallas reckons tomorrow’s clash with Featherstone will not be one for the faint-hearted.

James Webster’s Fev are strongly tipped to go one better this year after losing in Toronto in last season’s play-off final.

It is another tough early-season test for the Bulls on the back of their narrow defeat against London in the Championship curtain-raiser a fortnight ago.

The Bulls won two of the three encounters with Rovers in 2019 – with both home victories going right to the wire and being settled by just a point.

And vice-captain Hallas would happily settle for another dramatic finale this time around – as long as he can guarantee the same outcome.

He said: “For the sake of our hearts, I hope it’s not as close as last year. But as long as we get the two points, I’m not bothered.

“It will be a war in the middle at Dewsbury and they’ve got a lot up front.

“But we have to start beating these teams, if you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.

“That means beating the likes of Featherstone, London and Toulouse. Every week will be a test but fingers crossed when it comes to the challenge this weekend, we’ll be ready.”

The Bulls edged the opening-round clash between the sides 17-16 this time last year. They then repeated the trick in an even more pulsating ending in the Challenge Cup, clawing their way back from 18 points behind to win 27-26 on Jordan Lilley’s golden point.

But Fev delivered an emphatic response in the return league fixture as the Bulls were dumped 42-4.

Featherstone kicked off their new season with victory at Batley while the Bulls came up four points short against the relegated Broncos.

And both are coming off an unexpected blank weekend as the awful weather conditions wreaked havoc with the fixture list.

The Bulls were about to set off for York when the call came that their game was off.

It has meant a long wait for their second league outing but Hallas insists there is a positive vibe from the way they performed against London.

“Things are good,” he added. “It was disappointing to not play because of Storm Ciara which ruined the York game.

“But our last performance was really good. We turned out really well and put London to the sword and I thought we were unlucky.

“So, we need to put in a repeat performance against Featherstone.

“All the non-negotiables were really good, all the one percenters. It fits in with what we want to do this year.

“I think we’re still rusty in attack but that’ll come throughout the season.

“Featherstone are a really good side, so it doesn’t get any easier. It’s another good test for us but hopefully we can come away with the points this time.”

At 23, Hallas is already one of the more experienced heads in a changing room that includes several promising youngsters. Brad Gallagher and Ebon Scurr both showed up well in the London game.

He said: “Ebon and Brad are outstanding talents and that’s credit to Mark Dunning and Leigh Beattie as well as the boys themselves.

“They are setting records, training their hearts out and deserve everything they’re getting. They work incredibly hard and are pushing the first-teamers every single day.”