NEWPORT Gwent Dragons centre Jack Dixon is relishing the chance to experience the pressures of knockout rugby for the first time at Rodney Parade this afternoon.

Dixon was yet to hit his teens when the Dragons last made it to the knockout stages of Europe, Paul Turner's side beating Brive in the last eight before going down to Clermont Auvergne in the 2007 Challenge Cup.

And the 20-year-old from Newbridge was in the academy when the region lost to Gloucester in the last four of the LV= Cup in 2011.

Of the starting XV against Cardiff Blues, Dixon, Hallam Amos, Dorian Jones, Tom Prydie, Cory Hill, James Thomas and James Benjamin have never played knockout rugby and the inside centre can't wait.

"There's been a buzz in training," said Dixon, who is back to his best after suffering a wrist injury at the start of the season. "It's a massive game and we feel that we are in a good place.

"We've had a couple of good wins against Ulster and Treviso (in the Guinness Pro12) and have momentum for a massive occasion.

"Pressure games are what you play rugby for but we have just got to treat it like any other game. We've put in some good performances in Europe, beating Stade Francais and Newcastle away, and we are quietly confident."

It makes a change for the Dragons to be the side with a welcome selection headache in midfield with Dixon and Pat Leach continuing their partnership and Tyler Morgan having to settle for a place on the bench.

The Blues, meanwhile, have been forced to shift Argentina wing Joaquin Tuculet from full-back to partner Gavin Evans after Wales international Cory Allen, the try scorer in the 11-9 win at Rodney Parade on New Year's Day, suffered a shoulder injury against Ulster.

"Cory went down last week and is a big player for them so we don't know what to expect," said Dixon.

"Gareth Anscombe will be a key man, he's a great player and tries to make things happen with kicks, can distribute and is a good runner so we will need to keep an eye on him."