Boss Dean Ryan has urged his Dragons to be brave and take the battle to league leaders Ulster Rugby when they arrive at Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2pm).
Dragons return to United Rugby Championship action against a side that Ryan has plenty of admiration for.
However, the Director of Dragons Rugby is keen for his squad to concentrate on their own performance as they look to improve on the last show against Benetton on home soil.
“The last game might have ended a losing run, but it wasn't really the way that we wanted to play,” said Ryan.
“We've been stifled into some physical contests over the last few weeks, and we haven't really got the width in the game that we would have wanted.
“Our emphasis has been about being a little braver and trying to create more width in our game, so we can open things up.
“We're playing a very physical side and when you look back to last year it was definitely a catalyst for us understanding the physicality that we needed,” he added.
“But we've also got to create width. We're not a side that can compete in the middle of the field against a powerful forward pack.
“What we're going to do is open some width. We have talked about that this week, and we'd hope to create a little bit more and therefore a few more opportunities off the back of that.”
Meanwhile, Ryan has spoken about his delight at the capture of new signings JJ Hanrahan and Rhodri Jones this week.
“Both will add competition for places, and they want to use the Dragons as a platform for opportunities for themselves,” he said.
“We can't afford to sit still. We can't afford to just continue on a development front. We’ve got to look at a recruitment front, albeit that's in a pretty tough landscape at the moment.
“We're starting to get some traction with some people, we're very targeted in in how we approach that, but we're starting to get some traction.
“They are the start of more to come. It’s that combination of starting to recruit players, evolving as a side, and understanding who's travelling with the Dragons long-term.
“Hopefully it is a combination that continues to see us move forward in the future.”
Our emphasis has been about being a little braver and trying to create more width in our game, so we can open things up...
