Jack Bird has strengthened his claim for the Cronulla No.1 jersey, scoring two tries in the Sharks' 30-30 NRL trial draw with the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.
He played the first half at fullback on Saturday night before shifting to the centres for the second stanza, allowing Ben Barba to move to fullback.
However, 20-year-old Bird outshone Barba in the custodian's role, breaking the line open to put the Sharks on the attack and picking up the scraps from a Chad Townsend bomb to open the side's scoring.
He also scored a second-half try at right centre, a play which no doubt will excite coach Shane Flanagan, given the pace at which he hit the gap close to the tryline.
Bird's second-half performance wasn't without its errors, though. He fumbled a ball in his own in-goal leading to a line dropout, while he also threw what would have been a match-winning pass forward on the siren.
The 2015 rookie of the year started all but one of his games at five-eighth last season, but impressed in last week's draw with Manly while playing at the back.
Tigers fullback James Tedesco showed signs of having a breakout 2016 season, setting up multiple tries for the home team.
Jack Littlejohn also appeared to wrap up the halfback spot for their opening-round clash with the Warriors, setting up a try for centre-turned-second-rower Chris Lawrence.
The former Manly reserve-grade half controlled the opening passages of the game well to set up an early 10-0 lead.
The Tigers levelled the scores with 10 minutes remaining, when a pinpoint-accurate cross-field kick by Littlejohn landed perfectly in the arms of David Nofoaluma to score.
Regular Tigers half Luke Brooks will miss the opening game of the season through suspension after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw charge from last year's final-round clash against St George Illawarra.
Tigers coach Jason Taylor was reluctant to confirm whether Littlejohn had done enough to earn the No.7 spot over Josh Drinkwater.
"Jack's been really good," Taylor said.
"Both Jack and Josh have been fighting hard for that spot in round one. We'll have to work out between now and then who gets that spot."
Flanagan said he was still yet to decide who would wear the Sharks' No.1 in the first round, but praised Bird's development at the back.
"Jack's a real footy player. The details of fullback play - he's really latching onto that and making it his own.
"It's a good battle and a good position for me to have. Benny (Barba) can play in the halves; he can come on if something happens and move someone into No.9," Flanagan said.
Fellow fullback rival Valentine Holmes appears certain to start on the wing to begin the season, with Mitch Brown injuring his ribs in the match.
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