The versatile back starred in the playmaker role in the weekends’ 28-13 triumph over PRO12 strugglers Zebre.
And with the absence of Priestland – who is in Warren Gatland’s Wales squad for the Dove Men Series this November – Shingler is determined to make the Scarlets number 10 shirt his own.
He said: “Game time is vital at outside-half so I would like to play every week. I haven’t played much because the team hasn’t been changed much. Wayne Pivac has stuck to his guns with selection.
“Sometimes it is all about patience. You have just got to wait for your opportunity and take it. It can be tough. If you are knocking on his door and asking for a game, then you have to make sure you perform when that chance comes otherwise he can say, ‘Look you’ve had the opportunity and not taken it’.
“I have had to wait patiently for a chance and I am glad it paid off tonight. Sometimes you can blame things on your rustiness, others you have got to stick with what you have been practicing with.”
The 23-year-old claimed a 23-point haul with a near perfect kicking display on Saturday night. And Shingler is not planning to give up his fly-half place without a fight when Priestland returns from international duty.
He said: “I was pleased with my kicking performance. That’s my job, to kick the goals, but the conditions were tricky, a bit of a lottery, so it was pleasing to get them.
“Hopefully I can be knocking on Wayne’s door in a couple of weeks’ time because I want to push Rhys for that No.1 spot.”
