Boss Dean Ryan admits his Dragons must find their feet quickly to avoid killing any momentum after the mid-season break.
Dragons are back in action for the first since the mid-January win over Enisei-STM in Europe when they face Benetton Rugby at Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 7.35pm).
Ryan’’s men go into the game on the back of four successive victories on home soil in all competitions.
However, the Director of Dragons Rugby is only too aware that his players will need to hit the floor running back in the Guinness PRO14 against a well-drilled Italian side.
“A three-week break is difficult because it is enough to kill momentum,” said Ryan. “If you don’t get your training right across that three weeks then you don’t come out the other end well.
“We’ve got three games coming up now and then we rest again. It’s the first time I’ve had to deal with that kind of challenge and we will see.
“Everyone will have a version of the best way through it. We’ve got ours and we will see at the weekend if we can find our feet quickly.
“We want momentum in the league. We want to be competitive when some of our senior players away with Wales and have more strength in depth.”
Ryan revealed the squad was set to been boosted be the return of the likes of Dafydd Howells and Ashton Hewitt.
However, he admitted it was bitter-sweet with several young guns ruled out.
“We’ve not stressed about our injuries and have seen it as opportunities, but unfortunately some of those opportunities have turned into injuries,” he added.
“Rio (Dyer) had a bright start and now is out and Carwyn (Penny) has a bit of a knock, but it is not as bad as we thought.
“Daf (Howells) is back that gives us pace in the back three and Ashton (Hewitt) is back too.
“We’re not as bad off as we might have been, but it is disappointing that some of the young lads have lost an opportunity in terms of a window for them to get some game time.
Ryan added that forward trio Lewis Evans, Brandon Nansen and Nic Cudd were back in training but unlikely to feature this weekend.
Watch the Dragons when they welcome their Italian counterparts to Rodney Parade this Saturday (kick-off 7:35pm). Click HERE to buy your tickets and join us for more top Guinness PRO14 action.
A three-week break is difficult because it is enough to kill momentum... we will see at the weekend if we can find our feet quickly
