The Bulls have included eight debutants in their team to face Castleford on Boxing Day.

New signings Patrick Ah Van, Shaun Ainscough and Ian Sibbit will all feature in the Jungle friendly following off-season moves from New Zealand Warriors, Wigan and Salford respectively.

Highly-rated young prospects John Bateman and Liam McAvoy, who have been training with the full-time squad since October, also make their debuts, along with academy starlets Callum Windley, Jobe Murphy and Matt Bailey.

Prop Tom Burgess and England Academy hooker Adam O’Brien are handed first starts, while Danny Addy and Cain Southernwood form a new partnership in the halves.

Assistant coach Francis Cummins and player performance manager Stuart Barrow will take charge of the team, which also includes first-teamers Vinny Finigan, Jason Crookes, Craig Kopczak and Elliott Whitehead.

Bulls team to face Castleford: Vinny Finigan; Shaun Ainscough, Jason Crookes, Patrick Ah Van, Rob Hawthorne; Danny Addy, Cain Southernwood; Craig Kopczak, Adam O’Brien, Tom Burgess, Ian Sibbit, Elliott Whitehead, Liam Mackay. Interchange: Callum Windley, Liam McAvoy, John Bateman, Jobe Murphy, Tom Lillycrop, Matt Bailey, Lewis Reed.

Meanwhile, Wayne Godwin is expected to sign for Salford this week after being granted a release by the Bulls.

The former Castleford, Wigan and Hull FC hooker would have found chances limited next season following the off-season arrival of former Leeds hooker Matt Diskin.

Bulls player of the year Heath L’Estrange will now compete with Diskin for the No 9 shirt.