Wayne Godwin is out to show he can be the Bulls’ top No 9 – now and next season.

The lively hooker gets a rare start against Huddersfield Giants tomorrow evening after Terry Newton suffered a fractured cheekbone last week.

Godwin has largely been second fiddle to the former Great Britain man since joining from Hull FC in 2007.

But Newton is unlikely to play again in Bradford colours as he is facing a six-week lay-off and is moving to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at the end of the campaign.

Aussie Heath L’Estrange is on his way to Odsal in 2010 but, like Godwin, he has predominantly been a bench hooker for Manly.

Godwin knows, with four games to go, he can get first stab at convincing boss Steve McNamara he can be the main man.

“I’m gutted for Tez,” he said. “I know him as a bloke and as a mate and he wouldn’t want to finish his Bradford career like that. It’s a shame because he was set to break 100 games for the Bulls.

“When he first went down at Quins, I thought it was just concussion but then we hear he’s done his cheek and it doesn’t look good.

“I want to be a starting nine though. Hopefully it’ll be good for me to get my game time in and hopefully impress so I can be a starting hooker, as well as coming off the bench.

“I’m just looking forward to finishing the season well, especially given the year I’ve had.

“It’s taken me a fair few weeks to get back into it but I’m feeling good now, loving being back out there with the lads and feel I’m getting back to my best.”

Godwin missed more than three months with a broken leg but returned in July and is looking razor-sharp again.

He helped tear strips off Harlequins with his darts from dummy half and is bidding to do the same against Chall-enge Cup finalists Huddersfield.

“We came out on fire and scored some great tries,” recalled the former Wigan rake.

“The game plan suited us, everyone pushed well and we played well as a team.

“We came up with some entertaining football and finished our opportunities. There was still a few more in that game we should have finished off especially second half and we’ll have to make sure we do that against Huddersfield.

“We’ve got to keep pushing for each other and supporting. That’s the big thing for us especially given Huddersfield’s defensive record and how so many players like to get into the tackle there. They do like to slow the game down.

“But if we play quick I’m sure we’ll get them in and around there. We’ve got to start like we did at Quins and keep playing all the way through. We can’t afford to have a second half like we did at Quins last week.”

After leading 36-6 at the break, the only highlight for the Bulls in the error-strewn second period was a lone try from Godwin, his first of the season.

Normally that means no famous ‘naked run’ for the player but the lively character revealed: “I do that every year anyway!

“It doesn’t really affect me. I like to do naked run all the time with the boys that have to do it and help them out.

“I’ll probably do it again this year although it was nice to get over for a try. I was leaving it late!”

Godwin is relishing going facing off against Huddersfield’s Scott Moore, the influential hooker being groomed to be Keiron Cunningham’s successor at St Helens but currently on a season-long loan at the Galpharm.

“He’s playing well and so is young Shaun Lunt off the bench,” Godwin added.

“I know him from when he was at Cas in the Academy. They have both been talked up well and I’m looking forward to playing against them both and going head-to-head.”

Godwin may not have any hooker back-up tomorrow evening as McNamara contemplates going without an established rake on the bench.

But the Odsal boss is confident in the player being able to hold his own.

“I have no qualms about Wayne Godwin going in there,” McNamara added.

“He played 70 minutes in London in extreme heat and was superb for us.

“I can always make changes in that area to give him a rest if he needs one.”