ASKAM starlet Jacques O'Neill is set to start his first match for Castleford Tigers as they battle Bradford Bulls on Friday night.
The match is the final pre-season fixture for the Super League outfit and O'Neill has been named to start at number nine for the encounter.
The 16-year-old featured from the bench as the Tigers defeated York City Knights 20-16 last week.
It was his first appearance among the first-team ranks and he is set to play a bigger role against the Bulls at the Provident Stadium (8pm kick-off).
O'Neill has been promoted to train with the Tigers first team this season, becoming the youngest player in the club's history to do so.
Prop Will Maher – a product of the youth ranks at Ulverston and already a Super League player – will also feature at Bradford.
Coach Daryl Powell has named a mainly youthful squad, with Castleford's Super League season starting next week at Hull Kingston Rovers.
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