DERRICK Williams is relishing the competition for places at Rovers following the arrival of Amari’i Bell.

The Irishman will make it 47 consecutive starts for Rovers this season at Plymouth Argyle tomorrow when he will line-up in central defence with Charlie Mulgrew sidelined.

January signing Bell will take Williams’ usual spot at left back but with Mulgrew and Darragh Lenihan nearing full fitness, the options available to boss Tony Mowbray are hotting up.

And on the increased competition Williams, who is one of three league ever presents this term alongside David Raya and Richie Smallwood, said: “It definitely changes the way you think.

“It makes you want to play better and you have to because if you don’t you are out the team.

“There is probably more pressure but you have to put that to one side and concentrate every day in training and try and show the gaffer you should be playing.

“I’ve done well this season, he (Bell) has done well in the two games so it would be a direct battle.

“It’s the same as when as Darragh comes back it will be for Paul (Downing) who has done well this season.

“Centre forward the same, things change quickly so you have to make sure you stay on your A-game and still doing well.”

Lenihan could return for next weekend’s home match with Oldham having not featured since the opening day defeat at Southend United after surgery on a fractured metatarsal.

Williams added: “We have got three or four key players coming back, it’s a big squad and competition is always good so everyone is on their top form.

“We will need every player for this last push. It will be a difficult task but we’re definitely capable and I think we’re looking forward to these upcoming games and putting the pressure on and going for the top spot.

“We’re only in the top two by one point and the team below (Shrewsbury) have a game in hand so we’ve got a lot of hard work still to do.”

Williams has mainly been used at left-back from Rovers since signing in 2016 from Bristol City where he was often deployed in a more central role, one he revived following Mulgrew’s injury 15 minutes in to the draw with Northampton last weekend.

“I’ve played there most of my career and then when I came here I changed more to a left back,” Williams added.

“I feel comfortable doing it, I enjoy playing there and like to add more to my game when I do play there to bring the ball out and be more composed.

“I do enjoy it, but I’m happy to play games wherever the gaffer wants me.

“There’s a lot of competition, Darragh is coming back, so there will be competition at both left-back and centre back.

“Amari’i is a good player, everyone has to be on top form otherwise you know someone will come in and replace you.”

Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw by Plymouth at Ewood Park in October and despite an 18-game unbeaten league run, Williams is eager not to let that happen again at Home Park today.

“That was a disappointing night,” he said of the Ewood draw. “We should have scored more, they defended well, so we’ll be expecting a similar game.

“They will look to absorb the pressure so we need to be clinical, stay concentrated at the back and not concede early which would fall in to their hands.”