D'Arcy vows to grab his big chance to impress Kidney.

Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY

PERSONAL experience has led Gordon D'Arcy to declare competition for a spot in the Ireland team has never been hotter.

He was Brian O'Driscoll's midfield partner through the Triple Crown successes but after a serious arm injury early last year, he found his way back into the No12 jersey blocked by Paddy Wallace.

D'Arcy returned for the final two games of the Grand Slam in March but the 29-year-old has not been guaranteed a starting slot for Leinster and Wallace got the nod again for last week's opening Guinness Series internationals against Australia.

"That's the great thing about sport," said D'Arcy. "You never know when you're going to be in or out so make the most of every chance you get.

"This is probably the most competitive season, from Leinster right through to Ireland. The so-called younger guys now have 15-20 caps, so they're not exactly novices any more. They might only be 21, 22 or 23 but they can't be called inexperienced.

"They've all played, they've all won a Grand Slam. It's just red-hot competition - which is the way the coaches want it I suppose.

"You just can't afford to have a bad game so every time you get a chance you have to make the most of it."

D'Arcy is one of eight to come in for the clash with Fiji who did not make the line-up against Australia.

He added: "A lot of guys are getting their chances this weekend and they basically have to grab it with both hands. It can only be good for Ireland."

In the past, Ireland simply could not afford to lose a player of Luke Fitzgerald's star quality.

He had been in flying form this season on the back of his Lions experience but was told at the start of the week he faces up to six months on the sidelines after rupturing knee ligaments against the Wallabies.

But D'Arcy believes it is the kind of blow that Ireland can now absorb.

He added: "Every team is going to have injuries. It's horrible to see Lukey going down - it's one of your mates and particularly when you can empathise with him.

"But knowing how he works, he'll breeze through this. He'll probably be back a month early.

"Obviously he understands the severity of the injury but he's pretty good at looking at the silver lining as well."

Fitzgerald's absence opens the door once more on the wing for Shane Horgan who did not feature in last year's Six Nations after a string of years in the side.

However, the Drogheda man responded brilliantly by displaying great form for Leinster in the closing stages of the Heineken Cup - and again at the start of this term.

And D'Arcy said: "From the tail end of last season and the beginning of this, he's been a stand-out performer for us.

"You can drift off the radar but if you work hard you can get back in and Shaggy is the prime example of that."