Lesley Vainikolo today eased Bulls fans' fears by insisting: I'll be ready to take on the world.

The barnstorming winger has so far failed to appear in any pre-season games, prompting doubts he will be fit for the World Club Challenge next Friday.

Vainikolo underwent knee surgery

during the winter and then suffered a scare while training in Lanzarote last week when his other knee also buckled.

That saw him miss Sunday's friendly at Huddersfield and the Kiwi will also sit out Robbie Paul's testimonial tomorrow night - the last chance for a run before that Wests Tigers showdown.

But the Bulls try-machine moved to allay concerns he won't be able to rumble with the Aussies, saying: "I'll be all right for that - definitely.

"I'd have loved to have played in Robbie's match as it would have been our last game together and I give him all the credit he deserves. But the knee isn't quite right. It's still a little swollen.

"I will be ready for the World Club Challenge though and the season's start."

The 26-year-old believes his latest knock is just a minor setback, although it did come as shock.

"I thought I was getting over it but training is getting harder and the games are getting harder every year," Vainikolo said.

"I just pulled up while we were in Lanzarote and looked at my knee. I could see it was just swelling but there's not really any major damage. I was told to give it a rest and so I've just been working on my upper body since.

"It's getting better though and I can't wait for Wests. The World Club Challenge is always one of the biggest games around."

Vainikolo is a survivor of the Bulls sides that won the competition in 2002 and 2004. Now it seems he will get the chance to help his team-mates rule the world for a record third time.