It did not take Aaron Wainwright long to realise that he needed to up his game after getting a Leicester rollocking soon after his move from Dragons.

The Wales number eight will aim to take his club form onto the Test stage against Japan in the Nations Championship on Saturday (16:40 GMT), following a strong start at Welford Road.

After nine seasons and 138 games at Dragons, the 29-year-old opted for a fresh challenge in the Prem.

Wainwright was permitted a slightly later arrival at Tigers due to his summer with Wales, and a new team-mate left him in no doubt that he needed to get up to speed.

"I had a lot of new information and detail, new line-out terminology that sort of thing," he said.

"I didn't know my role straight away and someone was getting stuck into me. I thought, 'I need to make sure I'm really on it here'. That's the level that they're at."

Wainwright has joined Wales internationals Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell and Gabriel Hamer-Webb to help Leicester set the pace in the Prem with four wins from five.

He said: "Standards are very high and that's led a lot by the players. They've got a lot of good leaders and experience there, and that's brought more of a voice out of me.

"I potentially contribute off-field more in that sense. The way players drive things and handle day-to-day stuff is exciting to see in a new environment."

Wainwright has played in every Prem game and enjoyed a rousing derby win against Northampton at Welford Road.

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has selected nine England-based players in his starting line-up to face Japan, six of them in the pack, as he aims to profit from the demands over the border.

"I've found it to be a step up, the physicality and intensity of games," said Wainwright. "I suppose that's what the Prem is and I've really enjoyed it."

Wainwright's comments are not meant as a slight at Dragons - he returned to Rodney Parade to witness former back-row colleague Harri Keddie make his 150th appearance against Zebre last weekend - but the forward is profiting from a change of scenery.

He has also had to switch roles.

Wainwright has filled the boots of blind-side flanker Hanro Liebenberg at Leicester after the South African returned home to play for Bulls.

The Welshman has worn six on his back five times with compatriot Olly Cracknell, who missed out on the Nations Championship squad, slotting in at number eight.

Wainwright has frequently shown his versatility since bursting through as a flanker at Dragons in 2017, and previously moved with Wales to accommodate Taulupe Faletau and Josh Navidi.

Open-side flanker Jac Morgan spoke this week about Gloucester unlocking more of his attacking game, while Wainwright believes Leicester have asked more of his defence to go with his strong-running.

"I probably don't get my hands on the ball as much, but it's definitely helped add to my game defensively," said Wainwright, who was previously used as an open-side in his early days at Dragons.

"There's more of an expectation to drive the defensive side of my game. I am trying to lead that a bit more and the mindset is very much get off the line and go and hit something there.

"That's the whole DNA there and it has brought something out of me."

But November is all about Wales for Wainwright, with the number eight looking no further than Japan.

Victory is essential to set up the Cardiff fixtures against New Zealand and Australia, which are followed by finals weekend at Twickenham.

Wainwright said: "Training has been really physical. We had a little bit of heat around the session on Wednesday, which was good.

"It's been tasty at the scrums and mauls. There is always a bit of disappointment with selection, so boys were quite revved up for it. Good to get stuck in there in right frame of mind."

After a year and 13 games under Steve Tandy, Wales need to speed up their improvements in the count down to the World Cup in Australia next year.

"It's about now we need to start putting in those performances that are going to make teams worried about us. We need to start this campaign fast and strong," said Wainwright, who played in the 2019 and 2023 tournaments.

"We've spoken a lot about being on this journey and we can put that into action, giving the fans something they can see on the pitch that reflects the words that we're saying.

"That's what we have to deliver on Saturday."