NEWPORT Gwent Dragons captain Colin Charvis has warned his team to expect a running game when they take on Guinness Premiership Newcastle at Kingston Park tomorrow.

The Dragons need to pull off an unexpected victory if they are to retain an interest in the EDF Energy Cup competition.

But Charvis has got the inside track on the Dragons' opponents because the last team he captained was Newcastle.

He spent two years in the north-east before joining the Dragons and captained Newcastle in his second season with them.

"They have changed a wee bit with a different style of play than they had under Rob Andrew," said Charvis.

"They base their game plan on the strength of their backs. Their forwards have improved a lot, but they base their game around some talented backs like Tom May, Matthew Tait, Toby Flood and Jamie Noon (currently injured), good young guys who Rob Andrew brought together.

"They use width in their game, but if the wind blows at Kingston Park then you have to change your game plan."

Charvis believes the Dragons emerged with credit from their tryless, low scoring 3-3 draw against Wasps last week.

"We felt quite disappointed after the game, but when the dust settled, though it wasn't the most exciting game for the supporters, we could take a pat on the back for holding the European champions," he said.

"They may have been without some of their leading players, but it was still the team that had been performing for them week in, week out in the Premiership."

Charvis plays his third game for the Dragons this season tonight, and it will his third different position having played at blindside flanker against Edinburgh, number eight last week and now openside.

"I'll be moving up to 4 or 5 soon, it'll put years on my career," he joked.

Though regular openside Richard Parks stands down for the first time since joining his home region in the summer he has already bought into what the Dragons squad represents, and is relishing a return to Perpignan next week after spending last season there.

"I've enjoyed my time back here, I'm glad to be back and it's an invigorating environment," he said. "I'm really proud to be part of the squad and it's great to be playing with a world class player like Colin."

If the Dragons can extend their unbeaten run to four games tomorrow they really will head to France next week with confidence sky high.