Kingsley Jones reckons there will be no pressure on his side when they take on the Scarlets in Judgement Day V on Saturday – even though they are yet to break their duck .
The Dragons have not won a Judgement Day fixture since its introduction in March 2013.
But director of rugby Jones believes his side have a license to go and play as some of his players target summer tour places with Wales.
He said: “Our players have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
“There are a lot of guys in our squad that also have one eye on the summer tour and there is no better opportunity for them to put hands up.”
The Scarlets have beaten the Dragons three times on Judgement Day, including a 34-20 bonus-point triumph last season.
Scott Williams, Steven Shingler, Steffan Evans and Gareth Davies scored the tries with Adam Warren and Adam Hughes crossing for the Men of Gwent.
Jones’ team enter the game having lost their last nine games, most recently to Zebre last Saturday.
The Dragons have not won a game since January 13 when they beat Enisei-STM in a European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage game.
In contrast, the Scarlets have triumphed in five of their last six – their only loss coming against Leinster on March 4.
And one man sure to impress for the Dragons on Saturday is flanker Ollie Griffiths whose leadership qualities, according to Jones, gives him an edge over some of Wales’ best back-row talent.
“Ollie is an outstanding prospect and he has got international rugby player written all over him,” said former Wales flanker Jones.
“Unfortunately for Ollie there are a lot of good number sevenss in Wales at the moment with Thomas Young, Ellis Jenkins, James Davies and the senior ones of Tipuric and Warburton.
“That’s a challenge for him. To stand out from that group of players you need something more and he has that with leadership qualities.
“The boys have called Ollie ‘Mini Warby’ for years. That’s a compliment because they think he’s a carbon copy of Sam in terms of his behaviour as well.
“Ollie is a good ball carrier, is good over the ball, is a great defender and has a bit of everything. He is a machine in terms of his work rate.”
