THIS time last year I was watching from the side as the boys beat Cardiff Blues in a fantastic derby in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

It was hard to miss out on such a big game so this year I'm looking forward to being out there for what should be another great occasion, this time an Anglo-Welsh derby just over the border at Gloucester.

The boys performed really well against the Blues at Rodney Parade to make it through to the semi-finals and it'd be an even bigger achievement if we can repeat that feat.

They are the holders and have won 15 games on the bounce in this competition; that shows that they are a quality side but it's a big opportunity for us.

We talk a lot about changing our perception so it's down us to perform and do the supporters proud. After last weekend's loss to the Ospreys we were all disappointed yet them cheering us off despite another narrow defeat was a good way to give Taulupe Faletau a good send-off at Rodney Parade, something that he has deserved being our talisman.

It would be good to give our fans something to shout about when in Kingsholm's famous Shed.

It will be a great occasion and atmosphere there if our trip back in 2011 for the LV= Cup semi-final is anything to go by.

We didn't really turn up that afternoon and after doing so well in the Challenge Cup for a second season running we don't want to let ourselves down like we did in Edinburgh in the semis last year.

But make no mistake – we are going to Gloucester for the win not just to try and get some respect by giving it a good crack.

We haven't had the best season in the league and have had so many missed opportunities; turn a handful of our 10 losing bonus points into tight wins and the table would be looking a lot healthier.

Our number of narrow defeat shows that we aren't far away but perhaps we've been lacking that killer instinct.

We had a gameplan against the Ospreys but were our own worst enemy because we didn't execute it and silly errors meant we couldn't get a foothold in the game.

They just did the basics really well to build up momentum, something that we will have to do against Gloucester.

Rather than being cautious and conservative we've got to play attacking rugby because our best performances, both in terms of enjoyment and wins, have come from expressing ourselves.

The Ospreys game showed that we can hurt teams when we play because we've got X-factor players in our side in the likes of Hallam, Tyler, Toby who can do special things at special times.

The balance is that we can't rely on them all the time. We can't just fling the ball their way, saying 'here you go Hallam, good luck'.

It's about building into a game and getting them into space by playing positive rugby. One of my memories from that 2011 game was Toby running down the wing causing carnage and it'd be great to have the same again, although this time he won't have a massive afro.

As simple as it sounds, if we all just carry out our individual roles we can cause an upset at Kingsholm.

By the time I head to the changing room after the final whistle in Gloucester things will be under way in a huge derby at Pandy Park where the Newport side I help coach take on Cross Keys.

It's a massive game with both of us chasing a place in the play-offs and it comes after a tough week for us Black and Ambers.

I've said before that it's amazing how many themes from the Dragons ring true with Newport.

Against the Ospreys we paid the price for a slow start and the same was true in our losses to Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins.

We let them build up a lead and then they could just frustrate us and live off our mistakes when we were chasing the game and forcing things.

We've showed we have the ability and talent to come back really well, scrapping for bonus points in both games, but if you don't start well then it's an uphill battle.

It's nice to be involved with a run in with a title chance for the first time in my career and we know it's going to be a really tough end to the season.

The mental side of recovery is just as important as the physical at the end of the season for both teams with such important games coming up.

I am just hoping that the season will end on a high for both Newport and the Dragons.