Backs Coach Barry Maddocks has vowed Dragons will select the ‘strongest side available’ for the European Challenge Cup showdown with Enisei-STM at Rodney Parade on Friday (kick-off 8pm).
Dragons know a maximum bonus point home win over the Russians should secure qualification for the last eight in the tournament.
When the two teams met in November – and Dragons ran out 49-22 winners – the region selected youthful side with one eye on the future.
However, Maddocks revealed Dragons would be simply picking the best team possible for this clash as they bid to claim the victory and at least four tries on home soil.
“The philosophy is to have a good performance and we know we need five points for qualification. We need to be right mentally,” he said.
“We will pick the strongest side available for us. All the guys that are fit will be picking from them to play.
“Aaron (Wainwright) will come back into the selection mix and so will Adam Warren now we managed to fix his nosebleed problem.
“We are waiting on Hibbz (Richard Hibbard) and we will make a call on him too.
“Qualification is back on our side and it is good for the boys to have a clear understanding of what they need to do,” he added.
“It’s in our hands and it is up to us to perform and play well in order to get the result we need. We are in charge of our own destiny.
"We have used Europe to get performances and a run of games going, it has been really good for us.
“What is important now is that all the hard work that we did in earlier rounds is for something and we get through. For us to get out of this group would be a big plus.”
Can Dragons make the knockout stages in Europe? Find out when we face Enisei-STM in the final pool game of the European Challenge Cup at Rodney Parade on Friday, January 17 (kick-off 8pm). Click HERE to buy tickets or call the Ticket Office on 01633 674990.
It’s in our hands and it is up to us to perform and play well in order to get the result we need... We are in charge of our own destiny...
