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.