LEICESTER, revived by their astonishing 49-7 victory over Ulster, arrive at Rodney Parade to take on Newport Gwent Dragons in a vital Heineken Cup tie on Saturday chasing not only victory but a bonus point as well.

The Dragons put their five-month-old unbeaten home record on the line against a Leicester side who are flat out to put their flagging season back on course.

They are near the foot of the Zurich Premiership table almost certainly out of the running for honours after dominating the English scene.

So Europe is their best course for any glory this season, and they don't intend giving up on it after winning the tournament twice before.

It will be the first game for England's triumphant World Cup winning England captain Martin Johnson to play since he announced his retirement from international rugby.

Judging by the way he finished the Ulster game with a rare try, Johnson is up for it big time. Neil Back, another England giant, is back in form as well, and it looks as though Leicester mean business.

"We need to win at the Dragons on Saturday, though I know it will be difficult to repeat a performance like the one against Ulster," said Leicester coach Dean Richards.

"The next two games are vitally important, we have to win them both, we can't afford to lose either of them. We need to win them well and hopefully get a bonus point as well."

Leicester close their group with a home game against Stade Francais, who they currently edge out of top spot on try count, having scored 11 tries to the French champions' eight.

Both are on 10 points, one ahead of Ulster and two in front

of the Dragons, though not one side has managed an away win.

It is the tightest Heineken Cup pool and the first side to snatch an away victory is almost certain to gain a quarter-finals place.

Leicester are clearly chasing that elusive away win at Newport, but the Dragons are not out of it beat Leicester and then win against Ulster in Belfast a week on Friday night they will make it into the last eight, assuming Stade Francais don't beat Ulster at home and Leicester away.

Ian Gough and Ross Beattie are fitness doubts for the Dragons with their hamstring and rib injuries which means coach Mike Ruddock abandoning the experiment of putting Michael Owen back to number eight.

But Leicester are without centres Ollie Smith, two-try hero of their home victory against the Dragons, and Darryl Gibson as well as England forwards Julian White, Martin Corry and Lewis Moody.

They will again use unlikely half back pairing of fit-again Harry Ellis and Jaco van der Westhuyzen, normally a full back, as the springboard for victory.

Ellis won the man-of-the-match award against Ulster and said, "We knew our jobs were on the line, everyone at Leicester hates losing, it's not the taking part that appeals to us but the winning that counts.

"We stood up to the mark because there is always pressure at this club and you simply have to rise to that."

Richards added, "The performance against Ulster was a long time coming, we wanted to make amends for Belfast and the difference in performance was huge.

"We've been disappointed with our inconsistency this season, it's all been a bit hit and miss, but an 80-point turnaround is immense."

l The showdown with the Tigers will be the biggest gate the Dragons have attracted so far with the Hazell Stand and Terrace full.

Tickets for the family stand and Argus Terrace are selling out fast.

Fans are advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Over 4,000 tickets have been sold and there are 2,000 season ticket holders, leaving 5,000 tickets available. Ticket office: 01633 670690.