RBS SIX NATIONS: Wales v Italy
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 20 March Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC HD channel, Red Button and BBC Sport website; full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Davies made his first Six Nations start in the defeat against France

Bradley Davies insists he will try to keep hold of the Wales number four jersey as long as he can.

The Blues lock knows that there will be extra competition when Lion Alun Wyn Jones returns from a shoulder injury.

"I played all right the last couple of games and want to keep improving and keep the number four shirt," he said.

"Maybe I got lucky with injuries, but when you get your chance you have to grasp it in two hands. I just want to keep it [the jersey] as long as I can."

Davies was handed his first Six Nations start in the defeat against France when Jones was ruled out of the rest of the championship after chipping a bone in his elbow against Scotland.

And he has impressed in both his full outings against France and Ireland, albeit in losing causes.

In the 27-12 defeat in Ireland last weekend he was many people's star performer for Wales.

An assured performance from Davies against Italy on Saturday would put him in the frame for Wales' June clash with South Africa in Cardiff and the summer tour to New Zealand.

"It's nice to play and nice to be involved in the last couple of games even though we lost. It's disappointing but I can't wait to get on the field [against Italy] and finish on a high," added 23-year-old Davies.

"It's nice to have good things said about you but it can easily change and if I a bad performance on the weekend I'm sure they will be saying the opposite.

"I've got to keep it going now."

Davies has been on something of an emotional rollercoaster in recent weeks after losing his mother in the week before he made his first Six Nations start against France.

And Davies has thanked his Wales team-mates for helping him through his personal trauma.

606: DEBATE How have you rated Bradley Davies' performances for Wales?

"The boys have been awesome. They have stuck by me and I have drawn my strength from them. I can't wait to get on the field with them on Saturday and the put in a big performance."

Now Davies is looking for Wales to get a much-needed victory after they have recorded just one win in their last four outings in the Championship.

But he is not writing off Italy's chances despite their 46-20 hammering at the hands of France in Paris last Sunday.

"They have been unlucky in a couple of games. I can't wait to get out there and fight fire with fire because they are going to come [here] all pumped up and they are going to sense a scalp," added Davies.

"So we have got to put our performance together on the weekend and put it right and build [on it] for the future."

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