Wests Tigers young gun Jacob Liddle says he's determined to make the most of his starting spot after working hard to earn the position over the season so far.
The crafty playmaker, who only returned from off-season shoulder surgery in Round 4, says he's excited by the opportunity presented to him by Ivan Cleary this week with just the fourth start of his career.
"It's a massive one for me," Liddle enthused ahead of this week's game.
"I've been hoping to get that opportunity and to start in the number one so hopefully I can play well.
"It'd be really great for me if I was able to cement that starting spot.
"It's a little different than coming off the bench; the energy you need at the start is big because the first 10 minutes of the game are probably the hardest. You're not coming on when the players are tired so you really need to hit hard and I guess just be on your game from the moment it kicks off."
After another full pre-season under his belt and his first under Coach Cleary, Liddle says there's subtle improvements in his game that he feels is being noticed by the coaching staff and playing group.
"I don't think there's as much a change in my game, just what I've done in the pre-season," he said.
"I'm a little bit stronger and a little bit faster and fitter too and I think that's helping.
"I've learned lots in the off-season with Ivan and things away from my running game too which is great."
See what Jacob Liddle had to say about this week's game in full in the video above!
