AT SOME stage in our lives we become pessimistic when it comes to sport; where once you saw opportunity for your side suddenly you become resigned to disappointment.

But why shouldn’t we dream? Why shouldn’t we believe that Newport Gwent Dragons can lift the European Rugby Challenge Cup aloft at the Stoop on May 1?

The Rodney Parade region have got used to being the patsies of Welsh rugby, lagging behind the other three, languishing near the bottom of the league and suffering European group stage elimination.

It has become a default setting to expect the season to tail off after the Six Nations with the Dragons merely aiming (and failing) to scramble above the Scarlets or Cardiff Blues.

Not this year.

They are one of three clubs that have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup with a group game to spare, sharing that feat with joint tournament favourites Exeter and Gloucester.

Whatever happens in the league between now and the end of the season the Dragons will enter the final six weeks with something to play for.

The region has never won anything and has played knockout rugby just twice, beating Brive in the quarters in 2007 before being overpowered by eventual Challenge Cup winners Clermont and suffering an Anglo-Welsh Cup hammering at the hands of Gloucester in 2010.

The Cherry and Whites even denied the Dragons the chance to earn some silverware when they won the Premiership Rugby 7s final at the Stoop last summer.

But the Dragons have found their level in the Challenge Cup – they simply are not ready to mix it in the Champions Cup yet – and while they may not quite be the side that everyone wants to avoid in the last-eight, nor are they out of their depth.

Their exploits so far mean that they will not have to travel to Sandy Park or Kingsholm while they have already shown the ability to forget past failures by winning in France for only the second time and breaking their duck in European encounters in England.

Nobody in contention for the quarters should make them quake in their boots and their opponents will certainly not be treating the region as a bye into the semis.

The Dragons’ scrum has made great strides after seasons of being marched backwards while their attacking driving lineout has caused plenty of problems.

The second row partnership of Rynard Landman and Andrew Coombs is flourishing while Lyn and Kingsley Jones have genuine selection headaches in the back row with Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd and James Thomas in fine form, Taulupe Faletau a class act and New Zealander Nick Crosswell poised to join the mix.

And, as Newcastle found out on the plastic pitch of Kingston Park, they boast dangerous young strike runners in the backs.

The Dragons were 20/1 long shots to lift the trophy before last Saturday’s trip to the north east but their odds have shortened to 12/1.

It’s not quite time to book a Twickenham hotel for May but it’s not delusional to think of the Dragons as serious contenders for the trophy.

THE Dragons need one more point from their fixture against Stade Francais on Saturday to earn a home quarter-final, something that the Rodney Parade punters deserve.

While the concept of Judgement Day enables the regions to give their sponsors exposure in front of a larger audience, it does deny Dragons and Cardiff Blues a derby on their own turf.

If new supporters can be attracted by tickets for a tenner then retained then great but the eastern regions have a tricky balancing act as they attempt to look after their regulars.