Bulls prop Craig Kopczak admits he'll be aiming to catch the eye of the opposition coach on Friday night.

The trip to St Helens sees Bradford come face-to-face with incoming coach Mick Potter ahead of his end-of-season switch to Odsal, providing added incentive to impress.

That desire is even stronger for the 23-year-old academy product, with his contract due to expire at the end of the campaign and an extension not yet agreed.

Kopczak is desperate to stay at his home-town club, so knows it is essential to prove himself worthy of a place in Potter's plans.

He said: “I've been really enjoying playing a bigger role at the moment, so hopefully I can keep on going to the end of the season, and into next season if I sign up.

“I'm really looking forward to Friday's game. It's always a big game between Bradford and Saints so I can't wait to get stuck in.

“It's a chance to impress Mick Potter as well. Everyone will be playing out of their skins, so it should be a tasty game.”

“I'd definitely like to stay at Bradford. It's a club I love to be at and Bradford's in my blood.”

Kopczak's recent performances have been at odds with those of the team.

While general standards have slipped during an 11-game losing run, the former Dudley Hill amateur has enjoyed a strong run of form, mainly due to an increase in playing time.

The long-term knee injury suffered by Nick Scruton created a vacancy for a front-line prop, and Kopczak was quick to put in his application.

He said: “I've had to take this opportunity to make the step up, and hopefully I've shown what I can do.

“I'm aiming to do even more and we have got a few people coming back from injury now so that's going to help push me on.

“I've just got to keep training hard, playing hard and hopefully we can come away with the two points on Friday.

“I've got to take these opportunities. I'm still only 23 but I'm growing in confidence and experience as well, so I just have to keep doing what I'm doing.”

But playing time is not the only reason for the recent upturn in form.

Kopczak suffered a slow start to the current campaign after his pre-season preparations were severely disrupted by injury.

Torn medial knee ligaments, suffered while playing for Wales against England last October, essentially meant he was unable to follow the same off-season programme as his team-mates.

As a result, it has taken time for Kopczak to feel 100 per cent confident in his body.

He said: “My role has changed. I'm doing more minutes, which I'm really enjoying, and the way I'm playing is a bit more free, so I can express myself a little bit more.

“I've been able to show a bit more mobility, and that's to do with the injury as well. I did my medial at the back end of pre-season and I didn't get much time to do anything so it's been a steady progress.

“But I've hit some form now, and hopefully I can keep it up.”