ELLIOT Dee is taking nothing for granted in the countdown to the World Cup despite a year in which he has gone from winning his first cap to becoming a familiar face in the Wales squad.

The Dragons hooker was rewarded for a fine start to last season with an autumn call-up and he made his Test bow as a replacement in the win against Georgia before coming off the bench again in the victory against South Africa.

The 24-year-old from Newbridge retained his spot in the squad for the Six Nations and climbed the pecking order to become Ken Owens’ deputy, backing up the Lions hooker against Scotland, England, Ireland and France and making his first Test start against the Italians.

When the Scarlets skipper was rested for the summer tour it was Dee that wore 2 on his back ahead of Ryan Elias against the Springboks in Washington and the first game of the double-header in Argentina.

The Dragons man is once again battling with Owens and Elias for the start at the heart of the front row versus Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa this autumn and linked up with the squad on Monday.

“I am excited to get in and get amongst it,” said Dee. “It would have been nice to go in on the back of a Dragons win. Unfortunately that didn’t happen but I am sure the boys will knuckle down and right some wrongs.

“It’s always a nice feeling being named in the squad, you are always nervous before it is named. It will be nice to get into camp, have a chance of environment and work hard to get a place in the team.”

Dee was one of the large contingent of over 60 players who were invited to the Vale Resort ahead of the autumn squad announcement to be talked through the World Cup preparation by Warren Gatland and his backroom team.

The national management outlined the timeline to Japan 2019, whetting the appetite for the hopefuls.

Gatland has just 31 places for the tournament and is mulling over how he will split his squad – for England 2019 he named just two specialist hookers with prop Aaron Jarvis covering.

Dee has endured his fair share of frustration, and in the season before his international breakthrough endured three ankle operations and another on his nose, so is taking nothing for granted.

“It was nice to be involved and good to be at the Vale to see the outline of what will happen, but everyone knows what rugby is like. You can’t look too far ahead, you have to look week to week, try to perform and build,” he said.

Uncapped Cardiff Blues fly-half Jarrod Evans has been called into the squad.

The 22-year-old was already training with Gatland's men but now gains an official call-up ahead of games against Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa.

The WRU added that Scarlets fly-half Rhys Patchell continues to make progress with his rehabilitation following concussion.

It appears likely that Evans will be involved in Wales' match-day 23 for the Scotland fixture on November 3.

His Blues colleague Gareth Anscombe is a clear favourite to wear the number 10 shirt, but Evans would be a strong candidate for the replacements' bench, particularly as Northampton fly-half Dan Biggar is unavailable.

As the Scotland clash falls outside World Rugby's autumn Test window, England-based players like Biggar, Saracens back Liam Williams and Worcester wing Josh Adams are ruled out.

Ospreys lock Bradley Davies, meanwhile, has been released from the Wales squad because of a knee problem.

Davies, who has won 64 caps, will undergo further investigation and assessments.

Gatland has Cory Hill and Jake Ball as the prime candidates to partner captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second row with Adam Beard the other option.