Eels speedster Bevan French will be first in line to try and lock down the fullback position for Parramatta when league trials get underway.
The Eels are set to face South Sydney in a pre-season clash with French set to take up the position vacated by the departing Jarryd Hayne and Corey Norman.
Eels coach Brad Arthur is yet to decide who will get the position come round one, but French is keen to show what he can do.
“It’s exciting. I’ll only get 40 minutes or so but hopefully I can go out there and show some leadership, which I haven’t shown in the past,” French told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Healthy competition is good for the team, it gives us a lot of depth.”
French was full of promise when he debuted back in 2016, but has since suffered a number of setbacks.
“I’m the first to admit I didn’t have the right attitude after some self-reflection. The off-season review at the end of the year, we all spoke about that. I think I’ll be a lot better this year, at least on the attitude side of things.”
French is will also have a chance to impress when he plays for the Indigenous All-Stars team in their game against the Maori.