CENTRE Ben John hopes that practice will make perfect when he lines up for Newport Gwent Dragons against Treviso on Sunday.

The 23-year-old signed on loan from the Ospreys late last Wednesday and as flung straight in against Glasgow after just two training sessions.

It was John's first Pro12 game since injuring a shoulder when on the receiving end of a Jamie Heaslip tackle against Leinster in January and he was solid despite the Dragons going down 33-13.

He has gone from being a fringe figure at the Liberty Stadium to being arguably the most important player at Rodney Parade.

John is the Dragons only fit senior centre as Pat Leach, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Ross Wardle and Ashley Smith are all in an increasingly cramped treatment room.

He hopes that a full week of preparation will help him be more prominent as the Dragons strive for a first win of the season against a Treviso side that are yet to register a point.

"Game time at the highest level is huge for any young rugby player coming through and I am really thankful for the opportunity," said John.

"I enjoyed it against Glasgow but it will be nice to actually learn all the moves and not be asking what the calls are; it'll be good to know exactly what I am doing and I am sure I will be sharper.

"It's crazy that four centres are out and then when I trained last Thursday Ashley strained his hamstring, I couldn't believe it.

"It's funny, at the Ospreys I was a youngster and I have come here and become a senior player but it's good for me because I've got to talk to them and use my experience.

"We've got a lot of youngsters in the backs but there is a lot of attacking flair out wide with Hallam Amos, Tom Prydie and Aled Brew. My job is just to get the ball to the wheels out wide."

Put Ben John into Google and among the top results is a bizarre try that the centre scored against Treviso last year.

The Italians attempted a quick lineout behind their line but fluffed the clearance to gift the centre a score. He doesn't expect them to be as charitable in Newport on Sunday.

John said: "Treviso won't be easy and we have got to put a big shift in but the boys are looking forward to making up for Glasgow.

"Treviso's forwards are normally big and they usually have a strong centre, they will try and overpower us. It will be a tough match."