Returning Number Eight Ollie Griffiths admits Dragons must produce a disciplined display when they face a powerful Ospreys side at Swansea.com Stadium on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
The Men of Gwent face a Welsh derby in the United Rugby Championship as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of defeat to Zebre last weekend.
Ospreys, by comparison, defeated Scarlets on home soil last time out and Griffiths acknowledges they will be full of confidence after that performance.
But the all-action back row is convinced if Dragons can replicate the kind of derby display they produced at Parc y Scarlets in April then they can push a fully loaded Ospreys side all the way.
“Ospreys are going well,” said Griffiths. “They've had a decent season and they played well last week, so it's going be a tough challenge, but a nice one to come back into.
“As a group of players, we're going to give everything we've got for the last three games. It’s a derby first up so it’s important for us to go out there and put a good performance in.
“Not a lot of people expected us to go away and beat Scarlets. It doesn't matter what's happened in the past, anything can happen on the day.
“They've got a great driving maul, so we've talked about our discipline and not giving them opportunities to enter our 22,” he added.
“They're very set piece oriented and their drive is massive, so we have got to limit the number of times that they get to use that weapon.
“We want to go out there and play the rugby we know we're capable of. To do that we got to keep hold of the ball and perform defensively because they've got a lot of threats.
“They’ve got a decent backline, Gareth Anscombe is playing well and pulling the strings, so they've got a lot of threats. We've got to be on the money.”
Griffiths will make his comeback after a groin injury sustained in South Africa in March put him on the sidelines.
And the 27-year-old admits his return is a real boost ahead of the climax of the campaign.
“I did think it was season over. It felt quite bad at the time, but fortunately rehab has gone well and I can catch the last few games of this season. I’ve ended up not missing many really,” said Griffiths.
“My knee got caught underneath me in a tackle and I pulled it. It’s been around five weeks now and I’m looking forward to getting back into it.”
And Griffiths is also hoping he can repeat his usual trademark ability of hitting the ground running on his return.
He said: “I don't see any reason as to why, when you're coming back into the squad, you can’t be as fit as when you are playing.
“As long as you're up and running and S&Cs and the physios are doing good sessions with you, which we've got here, I don't see any reason as to why you can't come back just as just as fit.
“There's so much data now, GPS and contacts wise, you can replicate the game on the training field.
“It’s always different and getting your timing back for tackles and skills, but physically I feel in a good place.”
They've got a great driving maul, so we've talked about our discipline and not giving them opportunities to enter our 22...
