Unbeaten Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 4 leaders Newport Gwent Dragons travel to Sandy Park on Sunday for the first of a double header of top of the table showdowns between the sides.
The Dragons are looking to build on their last Amlin Challenge Cup game against Perpignan at Rodney Parade which was evidence of what the team can achieve and how clinical they can be.
Ashley Smith continues as Dragons captain in a squad that welcomes back Danny Lydiate and Toby Faletau from the Welsh Team. They join Lloyd Burns and Lewis Evans back in the Dragons fold for the trip to Devon to face the Chiefs.
Aled Brew and Tonderai Chavhanga are both out of the squad with facial and groin injuries respectively. Their absence is offset slightly by the return to fitness of flyer Will Harries, included for the first time this season after recovering from ruptured knee ligaments.
Newport Gwent Dragons and Exeter Chiefs have never faced each other before. Exeter are enjoying a successful domestic season to date, currently placed third in the Aviva Premiership and Head Coach Darren Edwards recognises that it is going to be a big challenge taking the Dragons to Sandy Park.
“We’re quite looking forward to the challenge, it’s nice when you play someone you don’t know much about and I think we’ve got to be proud of the fact that we are top of that table (Pool 4) and we really want to stay up there. It’s a competition that we’re targeting and it’s another game in Europe that we want to win.”
“To play in that English Premiership and be near the top of that league you certainly have to be very physical, have a strong set piece and be a clinical team. We’re in for a heavy defensive day.”
Newport Gwent Dragons Squad
Martyn Thomas, Will Harries, Andy Tuilagi, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith, Tom Riley, Lewis Robling, Jason Tovey, Steffan Jones, Wayne Evans, Joe Bedford, Tom Brown, Toby Faletau, Gavin Thomas, Dan Lydiate, Lewis Evans, Rob Sidoli, Scott Morgan, Adam Jones, Nathan Buck, Nathan Williams, Keiron Jenkins, Phil Price, Lloyd Burns, Rhys Buckley
