Winston Reid is relishing the opportunity to develop his flourishing partnership with James Tomkins at Doncaster Rovers.
The central defensive pair have played alongside one another on four occasions so far this season - three times in pre-season and in last Sunday's 1-0 npower Championship defeat by Cardiff City - and conceded just two goals.
The 23-year-old New Zealand international and his 22-year-old partner may lack a little in experience, but both are looking rock solid when challenged by opposition attackers.
"It is going well with me and Tonks," said Reid. "It is early days for us, but I feel we coped well with the two strikers last Sunday as they didn't get too many chances out of us.
"Our understanding will come as we play together and I am enjoying playing alongside him."
West Ham's poor defensive record was largely to blame for the club's relegation from the Premier League last term and new manager Sam Allardyce has placed much emphasis on the Hammers tightening things up at the back if they are to be promoted this term.
Reid confirmed that he and his fellow defenders had been putting in the hours to ensure they will not be breached anywhere near as often this time around.
"It has been part of training, looking at keeping tight at the back," he said. "We have been doing a lot in defensive work.
"We have kept some clean sheets in pre-season which has been good and that is something that, as defenders and as a team, we are looking to do as well as we can throughout the season."
If Reid and Tomkins can help to keep the opposition out on a regular basis, then the young Kiwi has a great opportunity to better the seven starts he made for the club during his first season at the Boleyn Ground.
"I see it as a part of growing in football, an experience," he explained. "It was tough at times of course but that was mainly because it was tough season for everyone, but you learn and it is always a learning curve when you first arrive at a new club.
"I am just looking to play as much as I can now. With every game I play, hopefully I will become more confident and settled and I can play my part for the team."
Reid insisted that, despite last Sunday's disappointment, manager Sam Allardyce has instilled a confidence and belief in the players - himself included - that they can bounce back to winning ways at the Keepmoat Stadium and get their promotion train well and truly on track.
"The manager has been great," he said. "He has just said he is counting on me like all the players, to do a job. We are looking forward to the season ahead, we have only played one game so there is a lot to look forward to here I feel.
"We have only played one game in the new season. We all believe in ourselves and the team that we can do what is required to get us up. It is a long season with a lot of games ahead and we are confident we can do this.
"There is a lot of belief in this team and hopefully we can show that in our games."