HAILED as the new Shane Williams after his explosive form last season, Newport Gwent Dragons flyer Will Harries says he prefers to be known as his own man.

The 23-year-old wing hopes to continue his rich vein of form when he makes his first start of the season for the Dragons tonight.

Harries has overcome groin and abdominal strains to face the Cardiff Blues in the away friendly and start staking his claim to be in Wales’ squad for the autumn internationals.

An excellent second half of the season saw him thrust into the limelight after joining the Daragons from Northampton Saints.

Harries gave Shane Williams a hard time in the Dragons’ 40-19 LV=Cup win over the Ospreys at home in January.

And two scintillating tries at Watford in a dramatic 23-22 win against Saracens in the same competition a week later confirmed the arrival of a new star.

It wasn’t long before Dragons attack coach Darren Edwards heralded Harries as “the new Shane”.

Harries also impressed Wales coach Warren Gatland and he was rewarded with his first cap as a replacement against New Zealand in the second Test in June.

So what is it like being compared to one of the best wingers in the world?

“I’ve taken a bit of stick about it. It’s been the subject of some banter,” he smiled.

“I grew up watching Shane and he is a great player. There are some similarities between us like our size (Harries is an inch taller than the 5ft 7in former IRB International Player of the Year and they both weigh in at 12st 8lb) and our style, but I think I’ve got my own style.”

It was an injured Williams who Harries replaced on the summer tour of New Zealand and he enjoyed his debut, coming on for Tom Prydie for the last ten minutes of the 29-10 defeat in Hamilton.

He said: “The adrenaline was pumping.

“When I came on I just tried to get my hands on the ball – I was running in at No 10 at one point.

“It was great to get on. It was a shame a bad bounce of the ball at the end gave them that final try.

“It’s certainly given me a taste for more caps.”

“It’s my aim this season to get fully fit and keep playing well for the Dragons and see what happens.”

Harries says that consistency is the Dragons’ watchword for the new campaign: “I really enjoyed last season and we had some awesome victories but we need to ensure we are more consistent.

“We nearly got to the play-offs of the Magners League last season so getting there this time is a definite goal.”

And as a Cardiff boy, Harries is particularly looking forward to tonight’s game and says there are no divided loyalties in his family: “Definitely not – they are all Dragons fans now.”