Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Welford Road buoyed by a 100% away Magners League record as they face Leicester Tigers in the EDF Energy Cup competition on Saturday, kick off 5.30pm.
The Dragons have been boosted with the news that a number of their Welsh internationals are fit and included in the 24 man squad after missing the opening month of action through injury. Lock Luke Charteris (ankle), Gareth Cooper (shoulder) and Michael Owen (shoulder) are all available for selection with Owen fit some two months ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile captain Kevin Morgan came through his first game last weekend against the Borders unscathed, he scored a try and collected the Man of the Match award on his return. Looking ahead to the trip to Welford Road he said, "Leicester away from home will be one of our toughest challenges of the season. It will be extremely difficult to go to the home of the Leicester Tigers who will have the crowd behind them. They boast a strong pack of forwards and exciting backs who are a threat from anywhere on the field. The game will be a marker of where we are as a squad and what we need to do to grow and improve as a team. Our aim is to become as successful as the Leicester's and Munster's of the rugby world and Saturday's game will show us what we need to do to achieve this aim."
The Dragons have been forced to make a number of changes to the squad from last weekend with players picking up knocks and hooker Steve Jones aggravated his shoulder injury in the 20-8 win over Borders, while Paul Emerick and Mike Hercus are unavailable due to international commitments with the USA team.
In last seasons encounter between the two sides it was The Dragons who came out on top at Rodney Parade winning 24-15, however, the squad is aware that the trip to Welford Road will be a much tougher prospect.
"The opening four Magners League games including two in three days has been a huge ask for our squad," said coach Paul Turner. "A number of players are carrying knocks and we are mindful of niggling injuries developing into something more serious. However, the good news is that our injured international trio are now fit and included in the squad and shows the benefit of having a strong squad both in depth and ability. A number of players experienced this competition and Heineken Cup rugby last year and matured as a result of those high intensity games. We will be looking to these players to step up again on Saturday in what is one of the toughest places to go and play rugby. As well as their own experiences of for example, playing Munster at Thomond Park last season they are also able to lean on the international players we have available in the squad following their recovery from injury. We are able to select players of the calibre of Kevin Morgan, Gareth Cooper, Luke Charteris and Michael Owen who along with Colin Charvis add another dimension to our squad in terms of leadership and experience at the highest level.
"Flanker James Harris becomes the sixth academy member who is introduced into the playing squad. He is a promising youngster with a bright future in the game and there will be no bigger test for him than against Lewis Moody. There is no doubt Leicester away will be extremely tough but we travel looking to play some attacking rugby and we cannot be overawed by the challenge."
Dragons Squad
Kevin Morgan, Aled Thomas, Gareth Wyatt, Matt Jess, Gareth Chapman, Richard Fussell, Aled Brew, Nathan Brew, Scott Williams, Ceri Sweeney, Craig Warlow, Gareth Baber, Gareth Cooper, Dai Maddocks, Ben Daly, Kieran Crawford, Lee Harrison, Rhys Thomas, Bryn Griffiths, Luke Charteris, Michael Owen, Andrew Hall, Nic Fitisemanu, Colin Charvis, James Harris.
