James Tarkowski admits he's going to have to bide his time at Brentford.
The January arrival from Oldham Athletic is yet to make his first-team debut for the Bees, but played an hour for the development squad in Tuesday's 2-0 win against Millwall.
Tarkowski featured 36 times for the Latics this season, but knows he will have to wait for his chance at Griffin Park, with Tony Craig and Harlee Dean the club's first-choice centre-back pairing.
He said: "I've been lucky to get as many games as I have this season, and it's up to me to prove to the staff why I should be playing here.
"The lads have been on a great run, so I know I'm going to have to bide my time. I knew that before I signed.
"I was prepared to come and sit on the bench and I've got to keep my fitness levels up to make sure I'm ready for when I'm called upon."
Brentford manager Mark Warburton blocked a loan move back to Oldham for the 21-year-old, deciding to keep him at Griffin Park as cover instead.
And Tarkowski reckons the Bees is the perfect club for him to continue his development.
"I've really enjoyed it," he added. "The lads and the coaches have really made it easy coming to a new club and a new city.
"This club is a perfect fit for me. They want to play the game the right way, which suits me down to the ground."
