LOOKING around the magnificent Swalec Stadium it was easy to see why the prospect of playing in the first game at the rejuvenated venue kept Glamorgan batsman Mike Powell going through months of injury hell.

The 31-year-old from Abergavenny spent a week in intensive care in Exeter last June after complications from a blood clot in his left arm.

It left his life in the balance but Powell showed guts to fight back to fitness and ensure he will add to his 160 first class appearances.

He picked up the bat again in last week's pre-season clashes with Sussex and Somerset and will look to build on those displays in the three-day game against Oxford UCCE which started today.

However he fares, Powell is sure to be in the side for the season opener with Middlesex next week and it is that moment that kept his spirits high during last year's troubles.

"All I was thinking about was coming back and playing for Glamorgan when I was ill," he admitted. "It's a dream come true that my first game is at Lord's, which is my favourite ground, but I also want to play in that first day-nighter against Gloucester here at the Swalec Stadium.

"It kept me going but now that I have made the comeback I have to ensure I score the runs and help the side.

"You have more motivation after what I went through and I suppose it puts a slightly different perspective on my career, but at the end of the day I still want to score a lot runs and win games for Glamorgan just like I always have done."

It promises to be a much happier campaign with Powell adding more beef to the middle order, David Harrison returning to threaten with the ball and new signings adding strength in depth. And it is the fight for places that Powell believes will drive the side on for success.

"I think it will be a more competitive squad than we have had for a long time," he said. There are some very good players in the second team who are itching to play cricket and there will be some disgruntled players in that team, but that's a good thing.

"The new boys are just adding to a side that has some excellent young players alongside the experienced ones and we are going to be a competitive side this year.

"We had to blood some players last year but it has given them good experience to lean back on rather than going into it completely green."