Brian Noble said something this week you have never heard before and you may never hear again. "I am not too bothered about the result," said the Bulls coach.

"No, I'm really not. This is all about the performance. I am looking to see that we are putting things we have been working on in training into practice.

"Don't get me wrong, I am a winner, but at this stage of the season, and after the type of training we have had, you have to look at the bigger picture."

And Noble is happy to be brutally honest about the level of performance to be expected from his players in tonight's hit-out at The Jungle.

"The reality of the situation is that we will not be at our peak and I'm fine with that," continued Noble, who admits to being "very excited" about the new season.

"We want to be hitting our straps in the competitive games, not now.

"This will be a good opportunity for the players to work together, try out new things and work at the fundamentals of the game.

"That is what I am looking for. The result is secondary, and that it how things have to be at this stage of the season."

The players, however, may not share this view with a number clearly desperate to get out on the pitch and perform and get the season off to a victorious start.

The new boys particularly will be wanting to make a good impression to their new fans, the youngsters will want to show they can mix it with the big boys and those who haven't played since the Grand Final will simply be desperate to play a rugby league game.

"Maybe Nobby (Noble) is just saying that to see how we react," said Shontayne Hape. "I want to see us win, and do it in style."

Tigers coach Graham Steadman has named a strong line-up with most of his overseas contingent, who missed the Boxing Day clash at Headingley, returning to action.

New signings Damian Gibson, Jamie Thackray and Paul Jackson will make their home debuts, although a niggling hamstring injury rules Francis Maloney out of his Jungle return.

Another new signing, Paul Mellor from the Cronulla Sharks, and back rower Lee Harland are still in 're-hab', although progressing well, from close-season operations.

Michael Smith is the only other Tigers absentee as he builds up to full fitness following his close-season break, which came later than his team-mates' after figuring in the New Zealand touring squad.

Bulls: Robbie Paul, Leon Pryce, Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo, Paul Deacon, Joe Vagana, Jimmy Lowes, Danny Gartner, Jamie Peacock, Lee Gilmour, Karl Pratt, Alex Wilkinson, Stuart Reardon, Lee Radford, Jamie Langley, Scott Naylor, Vinny Myler, Aaron Smith, Chris Bridge, Rob Parker, Stuart Fielden, Richard Moore.

Tigers: Damian Gibson; Waine Pryce, Andy Johnson, Michael Eagar, Darren Rogers; Danny Orr, Mitch Healey; Nathan Sykes, Wayne Bartrim, Andy Lynch, Jamie Thackray, Dale Fritz, Ryan Hudson, Mark Lennon, Tommy Saxton, Paul Jackson, Richard Blakeway, Wayne Godwin.