Wing wonder Ashton Hewitt admits he cannot wait to get back on home soil for the big Guinness PRO14 double header at Rodney Parade in the coming weeks.
Dragons are set to play a first league game since the early January victory over Ospreys when they welcome Toyota Cheetahs to Newport on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 5.15pm).
Dean Ryan’s men also face Benetton Rugby in a rearranged fixture on Friday, March 6 (kick-off 7.35pm).
And Hewitt – a try scorer in last week’s defeat to Glasgow Warriors – is eager to get back home and build on a record that has seen Dragons win the last four games in all competitons.
“It’s always great to play at home,” he said. “Hopefully the fans are looking forward to coming and watching after a long break.
“There’s no international this weekend so hopefully we get a good turnout and they get behind the boys.
“If we show as much energy and work rate as we did against Glasgow, and with a few tweaks to our game, I think we can definitely get the win.
“All the boys thrive off it (the atmosphere),” he added. “Rodney Parade is a great place to play, it’s a hard place for opponents to come and play. A lot of players of other teams have expressed that in the past.
“We’re tough opposition for anyone coming to our patch, and that gives us that extra bit of confidence when we go away. We’ve really got capitalise on that and take it to the Cheetahs.
“They are out and out attack. They are a big running threat which we’re prepared for after playing Glasgow."
Reflecting on the season to date, Hewitt believes Dragons are in a positive place from which they can kick on in the second half of the campaign.
He said: “Everything’s going well. We’re playing positive rugby. Results that haven’t gone our way haven’t come with poor performance from us.
“There’s a lot of positives to build on and take into the game, even from Glasgow, even though it was a defeat.
“We’ve got a good atmosphere and environment. Dean (Ryan) is challenging the boys really well.
“I think everyone is learning a lot more than they have done in the past,” he added.
“It can be hard at times keeping up with the pace at which we need to learn. If you double that up with the injury list we’ve had, we’ve not been very lucky in that aspect.
“But we’re building and building well. Our performances have shown we’re doing that and hopefully we can keep making improvements, keep ourselves in games and get results.”
Watch the Dragons when they welcome their South African side Toyota Cheetahs to Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 5:15pm). Click HERE to buy your tickets and join us for more top Guinness PRO14 action.
We’re tough opposition for anyone coming to our patch, and that gives us that extra bit of confidence when we go away...
