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Today, 20 July 2008

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Chiefs centre Dwayne Sweeney says he is frustrated at not getting enough starts in this year's Super 14.

But while he is quick to point out he wants to do whatever is best for the team as they push for a place in the play-offs, Sweeney wants to establish himself as a starting centre.

Midfield incumbents Callum Bruce and Richard Kahui have been favoured by coach Ian Foster, with Sweeney only getting a look in when one of the pair are injured.

The 23-year-old admits this season he has felt most comfortable in the No.12 jersey.

His made consecutive starts at inside centre against the Crusaders and Reds - the only time he has got to play two games in a row in the same position in 2008. Both times he got a rare chance to combine in midfield with good friend Kahui.

Last week Bruce returned from injury to take the starting spot and Sweeney came off the bench to play half a game at centre when Kahui left the field with an ankle injury.

"I was loving it there [at No.12] and it's probably a position that suits me quite a lot and with the skill set that I do have it's probably a good position for me," Sweeney told the Waikato Times.

"But in saying that, it's quite a tricky position as well. You need a lot of time in the jersey to get used to it and I haven't had a lot of time in that jersey in the last couple of years," added the centre.

Sweeney said it had been no secret that he had defensive lapses in the past that probably counted against him and he had gone into the Crusaders match determined to make amends.

"I hadn't had a lot of game time up until then so leading up to that game I felt I had a point to prove, I guess," he said.

"I was really keen to get out there and play and definitely wanted to put my best foot forward to say, `look I'm here, I'm ready and I'm going to do everything I can to cement a starting spot'.

"I really went out there with a huge defensive attitude that I wanted to get up, get in their faces and take their time away. It ended up going all right," concluded Sweeney.

Whether or not he gets a start this weekend against the Lions remains to be seen, with Foster set to name is team on Thursday.