Liam Rosenior accepts he faces a battle to nail down a regular starting role as Hull City prepare for their season-opener at QPR tomorrow.
The popular and long-serving defender has proved his versatility since arriving at the club in October 2010.
Originally starting as right-back, Rosenior has also been deployed as a left-back, and slotted in as a left wing-back.
The 30-year-old, though, knows his consistency and versatility will not be any guarantee of match time this season.
This summer, boss Steve Bruce has added Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson to what was already a tight defensive unit.
He has also spent weeks trailing Spurs' Michael Dawson, but Rosenior is prepared to bide his time and is ready whenever he is called on.
Rosenior told the Mail: "I come in every day and work as hard as I can. That will never change.
"I look at Brady, Elmo, Robertson and if we play wing-backs there's a lot of competition.
"If we play four (in defence) it might be different but I'm sure my chance will come at some stage. Then it's up to me to take it."
Rosenior will undoubtedly be called upon in the next few days.
If it's not tomorrow at Loftus Road, then it will be against Belgian side Lokeren in the Europa League next Thursday, as Bruce juggles his resources to keep the Tigers as fit as possible.
The early schedule has already seen his side travel to Slovakia to face AS Trencin in the Europa League and Stuttgart in a pre-season friendly.
City now face five fixtures in 15 days, with league games against QPR, Stoke and Aston Villa and two dates against Lokeren.
"We've shown what a strong squad we've got, both against Trencin and in Stuttgart," said Rosenior.
"It's not just 11 players that gets you through a season anymore, it's 20 or 22 players.
"They're all champing at the bit to get a game here but no matter who starts at QPR they'll have the support of everyone else.
"I think it would be a shock if there's one player in the squad who plays all five games.
"That's the whole point. We're all in this together. There's no moaners or bad apples in our squad.
"Everyone here roots for the team to win whether they're playing or not. That's been part of our success in the last two or three years. It's been a fantastic club to play for and that's what we've got to continue."
City have not always hit the heights in pre-season, with Bruce fearing the team might be "under-cooked" against Trencin.
Nevertheless, Tigers survived and finished off in style in Stuttgart. It was a performance which left Bruce purring: "We've saved our best performance in months for last."
And Rosenior believes that tough pre-season schedule will stand City in good stead at Loftus Road tomorrow.
"The two Trencin games, when we had to push for a goal, did us the world of good," he said.
"Playing in that competitive environment should give us that little edge.
"We're going to be ready for QPR and we've got to make sure we cope with what they throw at us.
"They'll be flying, full of confidence after getting promoted, but we're already in that competitive zone.
"Hopefully we're starting out on another successful season and this club can keep on growing and progressing."
And Rosenior will, no doubt, have been buoyed by wearing the captain's armband against Stuttgart.
"It was a massive honour. I know it was a friendly but I'd say thanks to the manager for the opportunity," he said. "If there was ever the chance in the future then I'd love to do it again.
"This club means a lot to me and it was a nice confidence boost. Maybe in the future, who knows?
"But the most important thing for now is that I'm doing a good job for the manager and the club."
