Dwain Chambers told Boots 'n' All he is not ready to make his Super League bow - just yet.
Sprinter not set for Super League debut on Sunday.
Dwain Chambers says it could be two to three weeks before he makes his Super League debut - even though he is a natural.
The former sprint star, currently banned from Olympic competition for drug use, has joined Castleford Tigers on trial in a move that has split rugby league down the middle.
Cas have confirmed he will NOT make his debut against St Helens this weekend and is likely to figure in the reserves.
But the man himself said he is willing to wait, but did not rule out making a surprise appearance in front of the
Sky Sports cameras against Hull on April 11th.
"That decision will be made based on my performances in training," he told
Boots 'n' All in an exclusive interview.
"If I train well enough and warrant a position I am sure the coach will give me the green light. Until then I'm just going to get myself prepared - I've only done three days since I've been up here and I don't think that is nearly enough time to actually go out there and play.
"Yes, speed is one thing, but I have to get myself knocked about in training, learn to get up again and do that for a minimum of two or three weeks. But you never know, you may just see me popping up somewhere!"
When he arrived in a blaze of publicity on Tuesday, Chambers admitted to never having caught a rugby ball before.
But he still insists his arrival has given Super League's bottom club a confidence boost and claims to have taken to the sport straight away - despite a torrid time in NFL Europe.
Born natural
"There have been so many other things going on I haven't had the opportunity to do any formal training," he said.
"Monday was my first day and I seemed to grasp it like a duck to water. I am, it seems, a born natural. But that's going to show it's true colours when I play my first game."
He accepts that because of his Olympic ban - he is still debating whether to appeal against it in time for Beijing this Autumn - there will be people who don't want him in the sport.
The 29-year-old is also aware that he will become an instant target. But he says he is willing to take the hits and prove that the decision to join Castleford on trial is not just a stunt.
"I'm serious. I'm here, looking good in the uniform," he said. "This has gone beyond a publicity stunt, this is the genuine thing. I'm in training, yesterday they tried to kill me so I'm looking a little under the weather - but more than anything I'm still here.
"I won't know if I am going to get hit, simple as that. Hopefully I'll avoid a lot of the hits, but I know I am going to get hit, it's part and parcel of the sport and I was fully aware of that before I made the decision to come up here.
"I am going to be head-hunted, be targeted but with me being targeted it's going to divert attention away from other players and it's going to create opportunities for them to make moves and score tries.
"As much as I'm a threat, I'm also going to be a diversion which is going to be a huge benefit for the team.
"I am preparing myself for a war, but a fun war - with us being on the victorious side of it."
Statement
The Tigers, meanwhile, were also keen to clarify that Chambers will not be making a remarkable Super League debut on Sunday.
"The Castleford Tigers club wish to make it clear that there is no possibility that Dwain Chambers will be selected for our first team at this moment in time," said a club statement.
"Dwain has undergone a full Rugby League related fitness test and will take part in training sessions on Thursday and Friday.
"Subject to an assessment of his performance in these sessions by our coaching staff he may be considered for selection in the Tigers Reserve team which will also play on Sunday."
Watch Dwain Chambers' first interview since joining Castleford for yourself. Just click on the video in the top-right corner of your screen.
