NEWPORT Gwent Dragons will attempt to stun Guinness Pro12 title hopefuls Ulster for a third season tomorrow – with hooker Elliot Dee literally relishing the chance to go up against the Best.

The Irish province will field five World Cup stars for the encounter at Rodney Parade (kick-off 2.30pm) with centre Darren Cave, fly-half Paddy Jackson and flanker Chris Henry in the starting XV and hooker Rory Best and Springboks scrum-half Ruan Pienaar on the bench.

The visitors may have lost on their last two visits to Newport but start as favourites against a Dragons side who have spluttered so far this season.

The hosts have failed to cut loose in uninspiring home victories against Zebre and Treviso and have lost all four away games.

"We haven't had the best of starts to the season so we really need to kick it off and take confidence from a good performance. If we can get the crowd behind us we will hopefully get the win," said Dee.

"We've been doing a lot of individual stuff well but then have been making one or two little errors. We are getting into the 'red zone' and our attacking shape is good but then a knock-on or forward pass is taking momentum out of the game, but we are not far away."

Best, who started four of Ireland's five World Cup games, is sure to be called from the bench as Ulster prepare for the start of their Champions Cup campaign.

"Every week you come up against international players that you want to test yourself against," said 21-year-old Dee, who is knocking on the door for Test honours himself.

"I was up against Ken Owens last week and that was brilliant – I grew up watching him on TV and now I am playing against him.

"Rory Best is an Irish legend and you want to test yourself against players like that.

"Ulster have a big, strong, physical pack and pride themselves on that part of their game but they are also really sharp behind and can spin the ball wide with their wings doing a lot of damage," he continued.

"We've had a good look at them but have concentrated a lot on ourselves. We can't look at opposition too much or worry about what they are doing. It's about preparing well and getting ourselves right."