ADAM Warren hopes that the move east to Newport Gwent Dragons can help his stalled career hit top gear after seeing the change work wonders for his carshare partner.

The centre has joined the Rodney Parade side after turning down the offer of a fresh contract offer from the Scarlets, who he played for 67 times over four seasons.

The 24-year-old found chances hard to come by in Llanelli and over the years found himself behind the likes of Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams and Regan King in the pecking order.

It won't be a piece of cake to earn a spot in the Dragons midfield – they have plenty of options in the shape of Jack Dixon, Tyler Morgan, Ross Wardle, Pat Leach and Carl Meyer – but a change of scene can do the power of good.

Warren is sharing lifts to the Dragons' training base in Ystrad Mynach with fellow west Walians Hugh Gustafson and Nic Cudd, the latter of whom has been a revelation since joining the Dragons from Llanelli three years ago.

The flanker had also been on the Scarlets fringes but has made 67 appearances since heading to Rodney Parade and become one of the Guinness Pro12's most consistent performers with his high tackle rates and breakdown menace.

Warren – who has a Test cap to his name from the Barbarians encounter in 2012 and who played for Wales sevens last season – hopes to follow his lead.

"I had been at the Scarlets for a few years and felt as though my position in the squad hadn't changed. I had to keep waiting for injuries," said Warren, who can play 12, 13 or wing.

"I just felt it was the right choice to go to a new environment to try and push on. There are also quality players here but it's a fresh start for me and the chance to learn off other players.

"My main aim is to push to make the starting line-up. If I can do that then I can look to bigger things in the future but at the moment, with the competition that there is in midfield, I am just focused on bettering myself and getting a starting spot."

Warren has impressed his new teammates in pre-season training and has relished working alongside Wardle while Dixon and Morgan have been on Wales duty.

The pair joined forces in the pre-season win against Nottingham last weekend and will get another chance to impress when Warren welcomes his old teammates to Rodney Parade this evening (kick-off 7pm).

He said: "I wouldn't mind putting in some big hits against my old team! It's odd to play Welsh teams in pre-season (they travel to Cardiff Blues a week on Saturday) but it does add some competitive edge because fans love derbies and nobody wants to lose.

"We are going in with the focus of winning because it builds confidence for the start of the Guinness Pro12 but we also need to iron out some of the mistakes we made against Nottingham.

"There were some sloppy errors last week, which you get in a first game, and we need to keep building towards Connacht over the next two games."