NO favourites -- that will be the attitude of coach Chris Anderson towards his new team Newport Gwent Dragons.

Anderson, honed in the hard school of Australian rugby league, has this week seen the Wales tourists join in pre-season training so that the full squad, minus Percy Montgomery, are now giving it full blast.

But Anderson will treat the Wales men no differently from the rest of the squad - and none of them will play in next Friday's first pre-season friendly against a Welsh Premier Division Select XV at Cross Keys.

"Everyone has got to earn his stripes and whether they are internationals or not will have no real effect," he said. "If they earn the right they'll be in, but they will all be in the melting pot together.

"It's important for teamwork that everyone is treated fairly and equally. Form will be the decider.

"But the internationals won't play in the game next week. I want them to stay training hard, the big thing for them will be the start of the season, they need six hard weeks now and I don't want games to interfere with that.

"We'll use 23 or 24 players, I want to see them in a game situation. We have changed a few things around like the way the back division operates though they may revert to the way they used to do things at first."

Anderson acknowledges that the Dragons have been installed as the Welsh team expected to perform best in the Celtic League.

He says that is the price the team has to pay for their success last season, but regards that as a challenge.

"We've talked a bit about this. No-one expected the success of last year, but the players are aware that other teams rate them so they'll have to be at their best," he said.

"It's good if you're aware of it, then you can deal with it. We'll just take it as a challenge and accept it."

Anderson is gradually making the breakthrough in training as he warms -literally in this weather - to his first job in rugby union after a near lifetime in league.

And, though he's turned 50, he is not averse to joining in the training sessions himself.

"Things are starting to take shape, we're working to a structure within the team and the picture is becoming clearer," he said.

"The attitude is great, though the boys are tired because of the extra workload, they can see a reason for it. We've stepped up the pace to three sessions a day now.

"I'm happy with the team, we've got size, pace and a good pack. The work ethic is also quite good.

"I like to train and run with them, I can see who's doing what then. I'm a driven person and I can see the new players buying into the team spirit they had last year, so we'll be going out as a team."