Craig Kopczak did not join Elliot Kear’s fan club when he joined the Bulls earlier this month – he was already a fully paid-up member.

Homegrown Bradford prop Kopczak, named player of the year at Odsal in 2011, will line up alongside his new clubmate when Wales host Ireland in Neath this evening.

The match is a warm-up game for the Four Nations tournament, which starts a week later when Iestyn Harris’ men take on England at Leigh.

New recruit Kear – a member of Wales’ 2010 European Cup-winning team, who can also play full back – penned a three-year deal to join Kopczak at Odsal.

The Cardiff-born wing, 22, rose to prominence with Crusaders but left the Wrexham-based outfit in the wake of their financial woes which forced them to quit Super League.

Having turned down a move to Widnes to join the Bulls, Kopczak is convinced Kear will prove a major hit with Mick Potter’s men.

The former Dudley Hill amateur, 24, said: “I have known Elliot for a few years now from our time together with Wales and I’m really excited about the kind of impact he can have at Bradford.

“He has got good feet, is very strong under the high ball and has plenty of pace.

“Elliot’s ability aside, he’s a really good character to be around and is exactly the type of lad we need at Odsal.

“He’s a true professional, is very level-headed and is very hungry for success in his rugby league career.

“The Bulls have seen what he can do and I’m sure he will go from strength to strength with us next season.”

Wales coach and former Bulls stand-off Harris will use as many of his 24-man squad as possible against Ireland in order to give them much-needed game time before the England encounter.

That means Tyson Frizell, Matt Seamark and Peter Lupton are in line to win their first Welsh caps.

* Bulls duo James Donaldson and Luke Gale will feature for England Knights against Cumbria at Whitehaven today (3pm).

Donaldson, who hails from Whitehaven and was formerly with Wath Brow Hornets, missed last week’s win against France through injury but is fit enough to claim a spot on the bench.

New Bradford recruit Gale, who came off the bench to score against France, earns a starting role at scrum half and will partner Richie Myler of Warrington in the halves.