Bevan French will get the first chance to stake a claim for the contentious fullback jersey when the league trials unofficially start on Thursday night.

Parramatta will take on South Sydney in a pre-season clash between their Intrust Super Premiership teams, although Eels coach Brad Arthur will use the match to assess the progress of several first-grade candidates. Josh Hoffman, Kane Evans and Peni Terepo are among the established NRL players taking part for the blue and golds, although most attention will focus on French.

Arthur is yet to decide on a fullback for 2019 after the departure of potential custodians Jarryd Hayne and Corey Norman, leaving French and Gutherson to battle for the position. Most pundits thought they would have to wait until the NRL’s first official trial, between Parramatta and Canberra at St Marys Leagues Stadium Friday week, to see top-quality players in action. However, French is keen to make a statement during the hit-out at Wentworthville on Thursday evening.

“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 said.