NEWPORT Gwent Dragons hooker Rhys Buckley hopes his performance against Munster has done enough to convince boss Kingsley Jones to throw him the number 2 jersey again in Friday's crucial Guinness Pro12 clash in Treviso rather than the all-too-familiar 16 shirt.

The 27-year-old has largely featured as a replacement since returning from Moseley for a second spell at Rodney Parade in 2014. The front rower from Caldicot's first year with the Dragons in 2011/12 is the only one in which he has started more than one game.

Buckley got the nod for Saturday's 20-16 defeat to Munster in Newport after former Wales international Rhys Thomas failed to recover from a neck injury to join Elliot Dee, who is set to be out until at least December after undergoing surgery on ankle ligaments, on the sidelines.

He responded with a very solid display in which he hit 17 of 18 lineouts and put in some good work around the field when playing the full 80 minutes.

"I'd like to think that Kingsley will stick with me. I've waited for my opportunity and I'd like to think that I took it and that the others have to wait to get back in," said Buckley, who came off the bench in the 29-8 loss at Ulster and 11-6 win against Zebre.

"I've been a bit unlucky with injuries and the other two hadn't given me a sniff. That's how it works in rugby I suppose but hopefully I took my chance and can get a few more starts.

"I didn't sign up for 80 minutes! But it went well and I felt good out there and confidence in Ryanrd (Landman, lock) calling the lineouts, so I could just throw it to the top of the jump and know that they would be there."

Buckley acknowledges, however, that there is work to be done at the scrum ahead of what is sure to be a big examination of their set piece prowess in Treviso.

"They like long scrums, that's what the Italians are all about," he said. "They probably won't strike it, there will be 30-seconds scrums and we'll come out seeing stars.

"We knew that Munster would target us and try and milk it for a penalty in their 22 for an easy exit. The first two or three scrums we had issues but I think we addressed it on the pitch.

"Me, Brok Harris and Sam Hobbs had a little word and it wasn't too bad then, especially the won where we got a penalty on our line before half-time."

Buckley's previous start came in the 47-22 hammering by Zebre in Parma in the final game of last season while he has also played in Treviso three times and won just once.

Such history means there is little danger of the Dragons paying attention to their hosts' troubles when thumped 64-10 by the Ospreys last weekend.

"It's a very tricky trip and in my first spell here I was on the back of a hammering," said Buckley, referring to a 50-24 loss in 2011. "I know how difficult it is but if we play like we did against Munster then we can do a good job.

"We played ten times better than against Zebre, the crowd saw that, but yet again we came up that little bit short. We had an opportunity at the end but didn't take it so now we need to turn over Treviso and build from there."

The Dragons lost