ELLIOT Dee isn't concerned with getting back on the Wales radar yet – the hooker just wants to make the Dragons number 2 jersey his own after a "shocking" season.

The 23-year-old from Newbridge suffered an injury-ravaged 2016/17 with an ankle injury in pre-season, a broken nose then another foot injury limiting him to just 11 appearances.

That meant Dee become something of a forgotten man after previously being mentioned by Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde as a potential Test forward.

A year on the sidelines has seen Scarlets Ryan Elias, who was capped against Tonga and Samoa in the summer, establish himself as the main contender to the established trio of Ken Owens, Scott Baldwin and Kristian Dacey.

Dee still harbour international ambitions, and certainly still has time on his side, but his primary objective is getting the nod for the Dragons ahead of Rhys Buckley and new recruits Gerard Ellis and Liam Belcher.

"I want to play for Wales if that comes but last year I disappeared a bit of the radar and dropped down the pecking order," he said.

"What I am worried about right now is getting picked for the Dragons every week and just trying to be a good team member and play the best that I can.

"Last year was a terrible year for me, I missed my rugby and I am certainly hungry for it – I just want to play week in, week out."

Dee won the first battle for the 2 jersey after new head coach Bernard Jackman, himself a former hooker with Ireland, gave him the start against Leinster.

"It was a brutal pre-season, one of the hardest I've been involved in, and there is massive competition for the number 2 slot," said Dee.

"When my name was called out it was a relief but I was also nervous about getting the job done, because I know there are people there to take the shirt if I don't perform.

"It was brilliant to get back out at Rodney Parade – I missed it after having such a shocking season ruined by injury.

"I had the worst run of luck, anything that could go against me did, so it's just nice to be back in training and playing."

The Dragons name their team at midday for tomorrow's Guinness PRO14 clash against Edinburgh at Myreside.

Dee will hope to retain his place and be in the thick of the action for what they expect to be a stern examination up front.

"[Edinburgh head coach] Richard Cockerill was at Leicester for years so we know what he is about," said the hooker. "We know that it's going to be a tough, physical game with scrums and driving mauls trying to wear us down."