Bernard Jackman is convinced the Dragons can do without home comforts, having been to Moscow and returned with more than tourist snaps of Red Square.
The Dragons coach has dumped one unwanted record – an 18-month losing streak on their European travels – when the region beat Enisei-STM in the Challenge Cup last week.
Now, he turns to ridding the Dragons of another painful losing stretch. When they visit the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night it will be 30 matches since they last won away from home in the Guinness Pro14, a sequence that goes way back to March 2015.
“We have that away win under our belt in Europe and now we need to get that away win in the Pro14,” says Jackman.
“It was our first away win in a long time and I think that probably cost us when I look back at the Blues match.
“I felt at half-time we were a little overemotional and overexcited, we lost our process a little bit and that didn’t help us close out that game.”
That game at the Arms Park appeared at one stage to be a sequence-breaker as the Dragons led 21-10 at the break, only for the Blues to recover and win comfortably, 49-23.
The Ospreys would appear to be more vulnerable than at any time during the Dragons’ winless two-and-a-half year losing spell as the home region have lost their last seven matches.
But there were signs of flickering life in their narrow Champions Cup defeat at Saracens last week and Jackman says: “It’s a huge challenge because they have one of the best squads in Europe and we will have to show massive improvements from recent weeks to be competitive.”
“I have massive respect for them and their performance at Saracens was a step up from the week before against Clermont, when I felt they were very good.
“These derbies are unbelievably tough – they are another level up and the Ospreys have started to hit form.
“We know that we’ve got a hell of a long way to go, and it’s rare that you get overnight success in this game, but the win in Russia was a little milestone passed, five players in the Wales squad was a significant milestone.
“Now it’s about getting five starters and can we get six or seven in for the Six Nations and how many we can get in for next year. They are all little goals.”
What’s at stake?: If they fail to claim victory, the Ospreys will find themselves still rooted to the bottom of the table in Conference A and won’t have tasted victory since the opening game of the season, when they defeated Zebre 22-13.
The Dragons have the chance to close the gap on Edinburgh Rugby and Bennetton Treviso, who are both within touching distance in Conference B.
Team news (Ospreys): Flanker Sam Cross, who was an Olympic Sevens medallist with Great Britain and was this week named in Wales’ squad for the upcoming autumn internationals, is set to make his Guinness PRO14 debut.
Back row forward Dan Baker has been ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage sustained in the Osprey’s European Champions Cup defeat to Clermont earlier this month.
Team news (Dragons): The Dragons make six changes to the side that beat Enisei-STM in the European Challenge Cup last weekend, with Tyler Morgan making his 50th start for the region.
The likes of Gavin Henson, Brok Harris and Ashton Hewitt all return.
Talking points: Both sides come into this derby meeting off the back of previous encounters with Welsh outfits in Round Six.
The hosts were left frustrated as they were edged out by a single point at the hands of Scarlets while the Dragons were down 43-29 at Cardiff Blues – who will be the team to bounce back?
Key Battle: Dan Biggar v Gavin Henson
Wales fly-halves old and new will go head-to-head as current Wales number 10 Biggar goes up against experienced former Six Nations Grand Slam-winner Henson.
Both players are their teams’ leading point-scorers so far this season.
Key Stat: Since beating the Dragons on New Year’s Day, the Ospreys have lost their last three encounters with Welsh sides.
Did you know?: The Dragons have beaten a fellow Welsh region in the Championship just once since December 2013 – they defeated Cardiff Blues 23-17 on Boxing Day in 2014.
Ospreys: S Davies; K Giles, A Beck, O Watkin, D Evans; D Biggar, T Habberfield; N Smith, S Parry, D Arhip, B Davies, A W Jones, O Cracknell, S Cross, J King.
Replacements: S Baldwin, P James, M Fia, A Beard, R McCusker, B Leonard, J Hook, C Allen.
Dragons: H Amos; A Hewitt, T Morgan, J Dixon, J Rosser; G Henson, S Pretorius; B Harris, E Dee, L Brown, J Davies, C Hill, J Thomas, J Benjamin, L Evans.
Replacements: G Ellis, T Davies, L Fairbrother, R Landman, A Wainwright, C Davies, A O’Brien, P Howard.
TV: BBC Wales (KO: 7.35pm)
Match officials – Referee: Ian Davies (WRU), AR1: Adam Jones (WRU), AR2: Dewi Phillips (WRU), TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
