Wing Rio Dyer has urged Dragons to embrace the challenge of facing the high-flying Hollywoodbets Sharks with EPCR Challenge Cup qualification on the line.
The Men of Gwent welcome the South Africans to Rodney Parade on Sunday evening (kick-off 5.30pm) knowing they must take something from the game to secure knockout rugby.
The Sharks are top of Pool A and will also be chasing a home last 16 tie.
But for Dyer – who this week signed new terms at Dragons – the pressure and expectation is something the team needs to enjoy.
“You know the calibre they have in their team,” said Dyer. “You’ve got Springboks and World Cup winners, they are physical and are big man, and like any South African team they like the challenge.
“But we love playing at home at Rodney Parade and we want to enjoy that moment. This is that stepping stone to the future if we if we get through.
“It will give us confidence that we can do it, we can put in performances, and then there's that spiral effect into the future, carrying on and keep building from every performance.
“When you start winning and getting the performances you get closer as a group, you start enjoying things a little bit more.
“We’re trying to do as well as we can in this competition and see how far we can push ourselves.
“We’re three from three at home and we want to keep that streak going,” he added. “We take a lot of pride in Rodney Parade being our home and not making it easy or a pushover for any team.
“We are putting that kind of pressure on ourselves not to let people come here and just get the win.”
Wales wing Dyer ended any speculation over his own future this week when he put pen to paper on new terms. And a few days on from this decision, he has reflected on how important signing with his home club is.
“No matter who you are, it’s stressful trying to sign deals and stay with clubs. That pressure is taken off my back now so I can just focus on the rugby, enjoy it and love it like I've always done,” he said.
“There are external factors, but deep down I've grown up through the Dragons structure and with a lot of the boys that I’ve known for years.
“I'm a local boy and love playing for this team and representing the badge. The environment around here is amazing.
“Deep down I wanted to stay with the club and now knowing I can is a good a good thing for me.
“There's a lot of youngsters in the squad and we want to change the stigma associated with the club,” he added.
“We don’t want to be known as a squad of losers. People here are taking is personally now.
“We're out here to try and prove something and that we are a club that can be successful, can come up against teams of top quality and put in a good performance.
“That's the main thing I've seen changing with Dai (Flanagan) bringing in things and OB (Matt O’Brien) as the Backs Coach.
“That's a good structure for the next two years, developing people and then just kicking on.”
Tickets for the EPCR Challenge Cup clash with Hollywoodbets Sharks are available by clicking HERE or by calling 01633 670690 during office hours.
We love playing at home at Rodney Parade and we want to enjoy that moment. This is that stepping stone to the future if we if we get through...
