Shontayne Hape is promising an explosive start to the most important rugby season of his life.

The Kiwi youngster will pull on a Bulls shirt for the first time tomorrow in the friendly at Castleford and is determined to give the fans something to cheer about.

With the press interviews, warm-weather training camps and moving house out of the way, the 20-year-old centre just wants to get out there and show people what he can do on the field.

"I have come here to make my mark," said the confident youngster. "I am starting a new chapter in my life. I have come to a new club and a new country and want to show the fans what I can do.

"This is the most important season of my career, it is like I am starting all over again and I want to do as well as possible."

After arriving in a fanfare of publicity six weeks ago, the former Kiwi junior is now keen just to get on with the serious business of playing rugby.

He has been out with a knee injury since the second minute of the first NRL game of last season and is desperate to get back on the road to success.

But Hape, who has not played a competitive game for 11 months, admits he is nervous about his debut for the world champions.

And a twinge in his knee on the final days of the Portugal trip have not helped his nerves. "This is going to be a very big game for me," said Hape, a close friend of skipper and fellow Kiwi Robbie Paul.

"They tell me Castleford are a pretty good side and playing my first game is a big deal."

And pre-season friendly or not, this Bull is playing to win.

"I play every game to win," said Hape. "This might only be a friendly but we want to go and get a result. I will be giving everything I have got."

And with his four goals for the season already set as holding down a first team place, winning the Challenge Cup and the Grand Final and getting in to the Kiwi squad, this ambitious youngster is more than happy to promise a big performance at The Jungle.