IT WOULD be understandable if Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Hugh Gustafson was a bitter man.

The 27-year-old has found chances at a premium this season, sidelined while Elliot Dee and Rhys Thomas have shared the duties at the heart of the front row.

Gustafson has made just seven appearances for the Dragons, six of them being brief cameos off the bench and three of those in his old position of loosehead prop to cover injuries.

He made his first regional start of the campaign against Newcastle in the European Rugby Challenge Cup a fortnight ago because Dee was only fit for the bench because of a shoulder problem and Thomas was out with a hip/groin injury.

Gustafson put in a tremendous display at Kingston Park, mixing his trademark energy in the loose with a 100 per cent success rate at the lineout, yet it wasn't enough to break up the Dee-Thomas combination against Stade Francais last Saturday.

Nonetheless, Gustafson will simply continuing grafting hard on the training padding, throwing balls at the lineout rather than his toys out of the pram.

"I felt that I put my hand up against Newcastle but it's not my job to pick the team," he said. "There's no player power here and it's up to Lyn and Kingsley (Jones, coaches), whatever they say goes.

"All you can do is your own job and if I get a chance this weekend I have to perform to the best of my ability.

"Elliot and Rhys have played well and the team is performing. You can't hold any grudges and you have to just wait for your chance.

"There's nothing personal against any player, if there is then you are not a team player and you should go and find an individual sport.

"If you pre-empt selection and turn up to training thinking you've made it and that you are going to play then you shouldn't be here.

"Selection out of your hands as a player and you just have to get on with your job and support the team and the region."

Gustafson has been with the Dragons for eight seasons and only six players – Steve Jones, Adam Black, Lewis Evans, Wayne Evans, Ashley Smith and Luke Charteris – can better his tally of 140 appearances.

The majority of them have come at loosehead and the former Wales Under-20s skipper is still getting to grips with life at 2 after making the switch in 2012.

He said: "Elliot has played hooker more than I have through the years! I feel I am growing into the position, I've had a few bad games and bad throws but the more that you play the more you find your place.

"But if there are injuries I will jump across and it's quite homely to go back to the loosehead. Just like Lewis Evans playing six, seven or eight you just do as you are told."

Dee is being rested this weekend, opening the door for Gustafson to feature in the LV= Cup clash against Exeter at Rodney Parade.

He said: "The LV= Cup is a chance for a few boys who have been playing in the British and Irish Cup and the Premiership over the last few weeks and months.

"There are two other good hookers still in the squad with Rhys Buckley and Rhys Thomas and if I get a chance hopefully I can take it."