Australian back Jordan Rankin has emerged as favourite to plug the gap at English Super Leaguers Castleford created by the loss of Luke Gale to a season-ending Achilles injury.
Castleford swooped for versatile former Gold coast Titans and West Tigers player Rankin last week, signing him from Huddersfield in a straight swap for Joe Wardle in a bid to give coach Daryl Powell more options in the back line.
Powell has the option of pairing up Ben Roberts, Jamie Ellis or Cory Aston alongside Super League's reigning young player of the year Jake Trueman to cover for the absence of Gale and the club were also given special salary cap dispensation from the Rugby Football League to sign a replacement.
However, Powell has been so impressed by 27-year-old Rankin, who played in Sunday's friendly at Leeds, that he is now set make his debut in the Tigers' opening Super League fixture against Catalans Dragons on February 1.
"From what I've seen today, Jordan is in the driving seat," Powell told Tigers TV.
"He's got a lot of experience, he's quick and he challenges defences.
"He's a bit of a contrast from Trueman, who's a really good player in all sorts of ways, but he's not electric quick like Jordan and I think that combination will really grow."
Gold Coast-born Rankin, who has also played in Super League for Hull, joined his new club in time for their warm-weather training camp in Lanzarote and began Sunday's game at halfback before switching to fullback.
"He's had four sessions with us and he's slotted in like he's been here forever," Powell added.
