NEWPORT Gwent Dragons look like they mean business for Friday night’s LV= Cup clash with Aviva Premiership champions Saracens.

The Dragons will select a stronger side to face English rugby’s big-spenders than the youthful one picked for last week’s spirited 26-21 away defeat to the Ospreys.

Ashley Smith, back from a hamstring injury, is expected to lead the side from the centre and other top backs like No 15 Martyn Thomas and wing Aled Brew return.

The forwards will have more experience with seasoned internationals like flanker Gavin Thomas and lock Rob Sidoli both set to start and No 8 Tom Brown back from injury.

The Dragons can still qualify for the semi-finals but that prospect looks highly unrealistic.

They need both Northampton and Exeter to lose heavily at home before they can even entertain a repetition of their heroics of last season and progress to the last four.

Saracens are second in their LV= Cup group and are still in the running to qualify although Bath are in pole position.

The Watford side hammered Worcester 41-14 in the competition on Sunday at Vicarage Road and are in the midst of an excellent season.

They are currently second in the Premiership and are going great guns in the Heineken Cup.

Sarries topped their group in Europe, which included the Ospreys and Biarritz, to set them up with a home quarter-final with Clermont Auvergne next month.

So the Dragons could yet have a big say in the LV=Cup and their defence coach Rob Appleyard is determined his men put on a big spectacle for the home faithful.

“There’s huge excitement whenever we play in front of the Rodney Parade crowd,” he said.

“I think there is an expectation that we’ve got to try and put a show on for them to enjoy.

“And I think it’s always reciprocated, the noise and the atmosphere they bring to Rodney Parade.”

Appleyard revealed the side to face the Saracens would be selected with next week’s RaboDirect PRO12 match away to Ulster in Belfast in their plans.

“The team you’ll see when it’s released (tomorrow) will be a bit stronger than last week with our preparation for next week’s league game in mind,” he said.

Dragons squad: M Thomas, J Smith, W Harries, A Brew, A Hughes, A Tuilagi, A Smith, L Robling, S Jones, J Tovey, W Evans, J Bedford, T Brown, H Ellis, G Thomas, D Waters, L Evans, J Groves, R Sidoli, R Cadman, D Way, N Buck, A Coundley, P Price, N Williams, R Buckley, S Jones, S Parry.