AUSTRALIAN Test ace Michael De Vere will tonight make his eagerly-awaited Giants Super League debut at home to Salford (7.30) and is determined to make an immediate impact.
It will be the former Brisbane Broncos legend's first game since suffering a serious knee injury in July last year.
But the goalkicking centre is now ready to resume his glittering rugby league career and has set his sights on making a major impression in the Super League.
De Vere believes his right knee which underwent reconstruction is now as strong as ever, and is looking forward to proving that tonight against the City Reds.
"I'm feeling fit and strong, and I'm fully confident I'll be OK," announced De Vere.
"It's been a very tough eight months sitting on the sidelines and I've had to be very patient.
"I'm grateful to the club for the way they've looked after me and not tried to rush back my return.
"It's now time for me to repay the faith they have shown in me.
"For the last couple of weeks I've been doing the contact work and that's gone well.
"I'm also very familiar with the calls the team uses during games, so I'm hoping there won't be any problems tonight.
"Overall, I can't wait for the match to get under way."
De Vere and the Giants go into the contest on the back of Friday's superb 42-20 triumph at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
But he knows the Giants will need to be at their best against a Salford side who warmed up with an excellent 42-10 home victory over Warrington the same day.
And that sets up tonight's encounter superbly.
"Super League X is shaping up to be a great competition and is proving hard to predict," added De Vere.
"And I see no reason why the Giants can't go on to make a massive impact on it.
"The boys have been going well and they are improving every week. They were fantastic at Wakefield on Friday and hopefully, I'll be able to help that improvement continue and mark my start with the Giants as positively as possible."
