Max Llewellyn's form for Gloucester this year will have put the centre in the frame for Wales's summer tour to Australia.
That is the belief of the club's director of rugby George Skivington who picked the 6ft 5ins, 16st 7lbs midfielder for the clash at Leicester in the last Premiership round ahead of experienced Scotland international Chris Harris.
Llewellyn stood out in the knock-out stages of the Premiership Cup which Gloucester won by defeating Leicester in the final and with Wales lacking gainline breakers in their winless Six Nations campaign, his form will not have gone unnoticed.
The 25-year old, below, was capped against England in a World Cup warm-up last summer, but failed to make the cut for the tournament in France. He is not snared by the 25- cap rule having agreed his move to Gloucester in advance of it.
“We have good competition in the centres and Max waited patiently for his chance,” said Skivington, who speaks regularly to Wales's head coach Warren Gatland, his director of rugby when he played for Wasps.
“We set him targets in the eight-week break and he worked hard. We gave him some gym targets, not an area he has had massive focus on previously, and he put on a couple of kilos and focused on his power.
“He has really shown that in his last couple of games. He has always been brilliant with his power with the ball in hand but his defence has been outstanding. He is a big man, he is young and he is imposing his size on games.
“If you can find a way through Leicester's defence, any international coach is going to know about it. Max is growing into being an outstanding centre and that is why we signed him.
“I touch base with Gats every now and then so there is lots of communication. Max was unlucky to miss out on the World Cup. He was very, very close and it was a 50-50 call. Wales will be pleased to see the progress he is making in the Premiership.”
Wales have vacancies in midfield with George North retiring from Test rugby after winning 121 caps and Joe Roberts, who played against France in this year's Six Nations, out until the start of next season after a knee operation.
Two other Wales internationals are making their way to Kingsholm in the summer -World Cup halfbacks Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe.
Outside-half Anscombe has not played since the group stage victory over Australia. Amove to Japan to play for Suntory Sungoliath this season was scuttled when a groin injury required surgery and the 32-year old has kept his house in Cardiff.
Skivington moved for Anscombe after Adam Hastings decided to return to Glasgow and the 41-cap pivot declared his desire to play again for Wales.
“His contract starts in July and as he is coming back from injury we still have to see what his summer will look like and put a plan together. He still wants to play for Wales. I touched base with Gats around character and stuff but not what it would look like going forward.
“That is up to Warren and his team and no doubt we will hear from them if and when he is selected.”
Another Gloucester player hoping for an international call-up is No 8 Zach Mercer who joined the club from Montpellier last summer but was left out of England's World Cup and Six Nations squads, much to his expressed frustration.
Skivington, England A's head coach in the recent match against Portugal, urged Mercer to be patient as French clubs circle with Toulon president Bernard Lamaitre saying last week: “Who would not want a player like him? He brings both pace and power to the game, arare combination.”
Mercer has two years to run on his contract and would not come cheap. “Zach is very much in the picture for England,” said Skivington. “He is a class player and everyone wants him to push through.
“There are plenty of games to go this season. You do not see many players open up Leicester's defence as Zach did. He has a unique talent and he knows he is close.”
