Stuart Hooper is fully aware that his confirmation as Bath Rugby captain for the new season does not guarantee him a place in the team.
The club announced the 31-year-old lock would wear the armband for a third year earlier this week, having first been named skipper for the 2011-12 campaign.
Bath have a wealth of talent in their second row contingent, with Dave Attwood returning from a successful summer tour with England. Matt Garvey has just arrived from London Irish and Dominic Day is fresh off the back of an impressive first season at The Rec.
Add the injured Ryan Caldwell and Academy ace Will Spencer into the mix and Hooper knows he has a fight on his hands to secure a starting spot in Gary Gold's side every week.
"I am of course delighted and honoured to be asked by Gary and the coaches to captain Bath for another season," said Hooper
"We have a very exciting squad here that I am very proud to lead, and we are all looking forward to getting out on the pitch and getting the season underway.
"I would never get complacent. I think the worst thing you can ever do, especially if you are a leader, is to rest on your laurels and think you are going to be in the team just because you have been named as captain.
"That's not the way I work. First and foremost, I want to impress people with my work ethic and the things I do and from there you gain respect.
"I completely understand that it's a fight for my position but I think it's irrelevant that I am the captain if you are having that conversation.
"There's competition in every place and you wouldn't have it any other way.
"If you want to win cups and titles you've got to have that.
"We train every day, we train 15 on 15 and there is genuine competition for places. Nobody is sitting back, nobody is resting on their laurels and everyone is fighting for their place."
Hooper first arrived at The Rec from Leeds Carnegie in 2008 and made his 100th appearance in the Blue, Black and White last term.
Director of rugby Gold says he is a natural choice for the captaincy and will head up a core group of squad leaders.
"Stuart is a consummate professional, both on and off the pitch, and is the embodiment of the standards we expect of all the players here at Bath," said Gold.
"His work ethic is second to none, he's a very intelligent player and he talks very well. His leadership qualities are unquestioned and he has the utmost respect of all the players and staff at the club.
"We are fortunate to have some very strong leaders within the squad, with the likes of Rob Webber, Dave Attwood, Peter Stringer, Francois Louw and Paul James.
"They, along with Stuart, will form our leadership group for the season, making sure that the high standards we set ourselves on and off the pitch are met."
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