FLANKER Lewis Evans is hoping to prove that he is not a thorn next to two roses when he takes his place in the Newport Gwent Dragons back row this evening.

The 24-year-old dons the number 7 jersey against Treviso in the RaboDirect Pro12 at Rodney Parade, forming a triumvirate with Wales Grand Slam winners Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau.

It will be the first time that they have started together since the January Amlin Challenge Cup win against Cavalieri Prato.

With Lydiate the Six Nations player of the tournament and Faletau one of the hottest properties in world rugby, Evans is the one that slips under the radar.

But if that allows him to help his colleagues to shine then Evans, who is comfortable across the back row, is happy.

“I'm really looking forward to playing with them both again,” he said. “Having them back in the squad is a massive positive and I think that I have got a good relationship with both of them.

“We've all got our strengths and I am looking forward to seeing Toby doing his runs and Dan doing his tackles, while hopefully I can win a few turnovers.

“I know what their strengths are and I need to contribute with my own, which I feel are the contact area and the lineout.

“I think that there is a good balance there and (defence coach and former Wales flanker) Rob Appleyard has been helping me forge into a seven.

“I think it's a position that has changed massively over the last few years. There are still the likes of David Pocock but now there are lots of 6ft 4in opensides.”

He also knows that he need to impress against Treviso with plenty of his teammates ready to step in should he be under-par.

“We have two back row superstars but nobody can rest on their laurels,” said Evans.

“Myself, Jevon Groves, Darren Waters and Tom Brown are always going to fight for places.

“Everyone has to have at least two positions and it's a case of making life as difficult as you can for the coaches.

“We are constantly doing our back row clinics and trying to get better as a unit. Once you get your chance you have to take it, while we also want to make life difficult for Toby and Dan.”

Evans will be at the coalface against a Treviso side that possess some dangerour runners out wide but are likely to take it to the Dragons with some good old-fashioned Italian grunt up front.

“They have got a good driving lineout, strong scrum and are pretty ferocious at the contact area,” said the flanker.

“We've done our homework but rather than focus on them we need to worry about ourselves.

“The performance in our loss to Connacht was massively disappointing and it was an opportunity missed to put pressure on Cardiff Blues (who are one spot above the Dragons). So after that we just need to get our patterns and structures right rather than worrying too much about what Treviso are going to do.”