NEWPORT Gwent Dragons boss Lyn Jones has labelled Jason Tovey as an "enigma" and hopes the fly-half can crack Sale's code to secure a home European quarter-final.

Tovey has won back-to-back man of the match awards in the Challenge Cup, pulling the strings expertly in bonus point victories against Pau and Castres.

The 26-year-old's future is uncertain as he is out of contract at the end of the season but he did his chances of a fresh deal no harm with a virtuoso display at Rodney Parade last Friday.

Handed the 10 jersey in the absence of the in-form Dorian Jones, who is out for three months with a torn pectoral muscle, he not only kicked well but challenged Castres with ball in hand.

Now he is tasked with repeating the trick against Sale in Salford in Thursday's fixture that carries the prize of Pool Two top spot and a home quarter.

"Jason is an enigma. You saw what he can do against Castres, he attacked and was positive. It's great to see and we need more of that from him," said director of rugby Jones.

Tovey is likely to go up against another enigmatic fly-half in Danny Cipriani, a player whose talents have been overlooked by a series of England coaches, the latest being new boss Eddie Jones.

"Cipriani is a really talented player," said Lyn Jones. "I love watching him play and I want him to play against us. Our players want to go up against the best and Danny has proved himself to be just that.

"We know it's going to be a hell of a game and a tough game with everything to play for. We have to be positive in our game. We need know how dangerous a side Sale can be.

The Dragons win against Castres put them on the brink of the quarter-finals on Friday and the following day results went their way to cement a place in the knockout stages.

Their tally of 20 points assures them of at least one of three best runners-up spots but the Sharks, who are on 18, have to win to be certain of qualifying.