JORDAN Lilley insists he has nothing to prove when he lines up against Leeds at Odsal tomorrow.

The Bulls have made their pitch to sign the on-loan halfback on a permanent basis when his Rhinos contract is up at the end of the season.

Leeds declined to take up an option to keep him – but Lilley does not hold that against them as he builds up to the eagerly-anticipated Challenge Cup derby showdown.

READ MORE: Bulls make offer to Lilley

He said: “I will always have a soft spot for Leeds as a club because they gave me my opportunity in professional rugby. I played on the big stage in the World Club Challenge and I owe them a lot in that sense.

“The fans were great and stuck by me through whatever has gone on.

“I’m just looking forward to getting out there and playing the game.

“Who’d not want to play in a Leeds and Bradford derby? It’s not so much about proving a point, you want to be involved in those occasions.

“You want to play in front of 15,000-20,000 people all screaming at you, chanting and singing your songs. That’s what you dreamt of as a little kid.

“My mum and dad, my brother, my girlfriend – that’s what they all want to watch you doing.

“I’m happiest when I’m in front of all that and that’s what I’m really looking forward to.”

Lilley’s youthful partnership with Rowan Milnes will have a huge say in whether the Bulls can pull off a cup upset in the first meeting between the fierce rivals for five years.

The 22-year-old has the full confidence of coach John Kear – and the older heads around him like NRL veteran Jake Webster, who returns to the squad after being left out of the Toronto trip.

Lilley added: “I call him my protector! Any time I get taken off the ball, Webbo is always the first one there to look after me.

“But it’s great to have that experience in the team and they all listen to you and move for you.

“The big motto in team before self. We all do the little rubbish efforts or the bit of nitty-gritty for everyone – that’s the philosophy we all have.

“Everyone buys into it and it shows on the field.

“It’s about having respect. I’m a big believer in earning people’s trust and whenever I go into any environment, that’s the first thing I try and do.

“If you can get that in the team, they’ll trust your decisions and will listen to you on the field.

“I respect every single member of the team whether they are older than me or younger. I think I’ve got that back from my team-mates.

“If I say ‘I need this’, they’ll move for me and do what’s best for the team.

“This club have been through a lot and been to the lowest points you can go to, administration and this and that.

“Some of the players still here now have seen all that and I take my hat off to them for coming through the other side like true professionals.

“It’s nice to see Bradford finally pushing up the ladder and we’re not doing too bad in the Championship. Now you’ve got games like this one that we are all excited for.”