WHEN David Ruiz watched the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he did not think he would be lining up against one of their players four years later.

The FNQ Bulls striker leads the goal-scoring tally in this season’s Queensland State League, finding the net six times in the opening five rounds.

But tonight at Perry Park in Brisbane, Ruiz confronts an opponent with an international pedigree – Socceroo Craig Moore.

Moore is playing three games with the Brisbane Strikers to build match fitness before heading into camp with the national side ahead of this year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Ruiz said he had mixed feelings about taking on the Australian soccer legend.

"I’m a bit of everything," he said. "I’m nervous and excited.

"I expect him to be the toughest opponent I’ve ever played against.

"In saying that, I’m not planning on doing anything different to what I’d do normally.

"And I don’t think I’ll be thinking about him too much when the game starts."

What Ruiz and his Bulls teammates might have on their minds is the 8-2 thrashing the Strikers gave them in the pre-season.

The two sides have not clashed previously in competition rounds with the Bulls sitting second on the ladder with a 4-1 record.

The Strikers are a win behind in fourth.

"They (Brisbane) are a team you expect to be up there at the end of the year and this is a chance to see where we’re at," Ruiz said.

"It’ll show us the things we need to improve on or if we’ve fixed the things we needed to in the preseason."

FNQ Bulls: Steven Dangaard (gk), Cameron Morrison, Kane Alderton, Bronson Koppen, Joe Rusch, Victor Madrid, Dennis Allen, David Ruiz, George Slefendorfas, George Koroma, Alex Plowman, Callum Wood, Nathan Bird, Josh De Nittis.

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