THERE are some big calls for Newport Gwent Dragons director of rugby Lyn Jones to make when he names his line-up for the Ospreys game with places in the back five of his pack particularly well-contested.

Those that get the nod will be under pressure to perform in order to keep the jersey but one fears that the competition isn't quite as fierce as it needs to be at fly-half.

The only back-up to Jason Tovey is Angus O'Brien, a 19-year-old Wales Under-20s international with undoubted talent but who has not yet had a full season of Premiership rugby to learn his trade, and Dorian Jones, who has spent pre-season being tried out at scrum-half.

Tovey is a player who needs competition and he owes his boss a big performance after a shaky start to the season against Connacht.

The Sportsground is a notoriously difficult place to play yet there was no howling wind on Saturday and rain wasn't plummeting down. Fly-halves dream of such conditions but unfortunately Tovey made far too many errors, although it must be stressed he was far from the only one.

He did knock over an excellent late penalty to salvage a losing point but he will need to be a lot more precise in the ferocious derby atmosphere tomorrow.

But if he isn't then is there the option for Lyn Jones to bench him for the Glasgow game?

The boss clearly never fancied Kris Burton and the ex-Italy fly-half was a fringe figure throughout last season, making just seven starts.

His contract has been brought to an early end while Steffan Jones has been sent on a season-long loan to Bedford and will need to impress to earn an extension to his Dragons deal, which expires at the end of this campaign.

Last week the Dragons boss stressed that the deal between the regions and the Welsh Rugby Union had come too late for this season.

And perhaps it would be prudent to concentrate on bringing in a quality 10 for next year and beyond, perhaps from overseas, rather than just filling a spot in the squad for the sake of it.

But that comes with risks and the Dragons will be up against it if Tovey suffers an injury or a patch of horrid form.