On the eve of Bradford's big home derby against Leeds, Leon Pryce has admitted how conscious he is over his lack of game-time for the Bulls this season.

The 20-year-old utility back missed four games through suspension after being put on report during February's 17-4 Challenge Cup tie defeat against the Rhinos.

Even so, Pryce has started in ten games out of 22 for the Grand Final champions - five at full back, two on the left wing and three at stand-off. He has also been on the bench six times.

In the same number of matches last season, Pryce started in 15 - once on the right wing and 14 on the left wing - and he was on the bench twice.

"It has been disappointing the amount of game-time I have had for Bradford this season," admitted Pryce.

"And I was especially disappointed to be on the bench last week against Castleford after one of the best games I have had for Bradford the previous match (at Hull)."

Pryce then revealed: "Coming off the bench is not as easy as people think.

"It is hard because it takes you 15 minutes to get your breath, and you don't always have time for your second wind - sometimes you are only on the field for 20 minutes anyway.

"It is hard to take sometimes, but the better players just get on with it."

However, Pryce is in no doubt about the status of the Bradford v Leeds games in the British rugby league calendar.

Wigan and St Helens may have settled their little local difficulty at the JJB Stadium on Tuesday night.

But, as far as Pryce is concerned, that was just the starter before tomorrow's main course of the Bulls against the Rhinos at Valley Parade.

Pryce, who isn't 21 until October, said: "Coming from Bradford, I know how much the Leeds games means to the Bulls fans.

"And if you ask any of the Bradford or Leeds players, they will tell you just how tough these games are.

"In my eyes, it is definitely the biggest game in domestic club rugby league, and I am sure it is the same for most of the Leeds players as well."

The Rhinos have already beaten the table-topping Bulls twice this season - 17-4 in the Challenge Cup at Valley Parade and 28-20 in the Super League at headingley.

And Pryce, named last Sunday in the 32-strong Great Britain squad to face New Zealand in the autumn, admitted: "We owe it to ourselves to give a good performance.

"If we play well, everything else will look after itself, but there is no hiding the fact that we didn't play well in our two previous meetings this season.

"We were not ready for the Challenge Cup tie against them after the World Club Challenge, and Leeds were really pumped up for that game.

"And the second time we were in control of the game for 30 minutes and we just lost the plot. We only have ourselves to blame."

Some have said that the Rhinos' style just doesn't suit the Bulls, but Pryce refuted that, saying: "Look at our results over the past few seasons for example.

"It is just the case that Leeds played better than us on those two days."