JAMES Sheekey is determined to avoid a return to the building site next season by impressing before the Dragons’ back row crisis ends., writes Chris Kirwan.

The 23-year-old from Barry was signed from Cardiff RFC in October and is set to make his sixth appearance against Bordeaux-Begles in the European Challenge Cup tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

Sheekey was brought in because of a glut of injuries that sidelined Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Harrison Keddie, James Thomas, Ollie Griffiths and Max Williams.

After signing a one-year deal, his own aspirations were hampered by a concussion on debut at Munster and then a shoulder injury suffered against the Ospreys on New Year’s Eve.

He has been given the all clear to return against the Frenchmen and knows that he needs to shine given the Evans, Keddie, Griffiths and Williams are set to return in the coming weeks.

Sheekey was working as a concrete sprayer before being given a shot at Rodney Parade and doesn’t want to be back in the construction business just yet.

“I’d like to be here next year, things like this, getting to play PRO14 straight away, don’t come around very often,” said the back rower, who has a preference for number eight.

“I’ve had a few opportunities and hopefully they will keep coming so that something is in the pipeline for next year.

“When we met up Bernard [Jackman, head coach] said that he’d give me a crack and that it would be up to me to show what I have got.

“I was just playing for Cardiff RFC after getting released by the Blues, I had the phone call on the Monday and started on the Wednesday.

“I was concrete spraying, construction work. I was doing six days a week, 12-hour shifts so it’s a nice change! It’s one-year deal so I am trying to show what I can do and go from there.”

Sheekey was released by the Blues at the end of last season and held tentative talks with the Dragons but was recovering from an injury so it was decided that he would first work back to fitness with Cardiff.

The hope of extending his stay at Rodney Parade would be done the power of good by a strong display against a formidable Bordeaux-Begles side that triumphed 36-28 when the sides met last week.

“They are big lumps but I like to get stuck in really – I guess that’s where my injuries come from, the fact I run straight into people! But I love getting stuck in and carrying the ball,” said Sheekey.

“It will be the same as last week because they are a big French team and we have to weather the storm then hope that our conditioning will take us through to the end.

“Against the Scarlets we weren’t at the races, Bordeaux was a lot better but we still lacked that one per cent to win the game, so we are hoping to build from that and get the win.

“Bordeaux were a typical French team – big guys that want to smash the living daylights out of you. You just have to stop that.”

The Dragons name their team at midday.