HEAD coach Kingsley Jones knows Newport Gwent Dragons will face with a fired-up Zebre this afternoon as the Italians seek to secure Champions Cup rugby and give a winning send-off to iconic lock Marco Bortolami.

The hosts at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (kick-off 3pm) currently prop up the Guinness Pro12 but will leapfrog Treviso, who head to title-chasing Leinster, if they better the result of their Italian rivals.

That would secure a place in Europe's elite competition while for the second time this season they take on the Dragons on the back of a hammering.

They produced a plucky performance when going down 13-0 at Rodney Parade in September the week after a 61-13 smashing at Cardiff Blues while last weekend they were tonked 70-10 by in-form Glasgow.

"We've played them twice on the back of a thumping! That's often when you don't want to catch a team while Treviso have also leapfrogged them, so they've got everything to play for," said Jones.

"There's also a lot of pressure on them as it will mean a lot to get Champions Cup rugby after being second-from-bottom for most of the season.

"They will be desperate and we expect a tough challenge and Zebre have been right in the game at half-time against most of the teams who have gone over there.

"We have to be good for the first 30 minutes and the boys are fully aware of the challenge after losing there last season.

"Some teams don't respect them and play too much from the start. We certainly won't do that."

The Dragons have rung the changes after a gruelling schedule that has pitted them against Gloucester and Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup and the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets in the Pro12.

There is just one change to the backs – with Geraint Rhys Jones getting a run out at full-back – but six new faces come into the pack.

Hooker Rhys Buckley, tighthead Lloyd Fairbrother, lock Matthew Screech and back row forwards James Thomas, James Benjamin and Ed Jackson all get the chance to impress while Wales Under-20s number eight Harri Keddie is set for a professional debut off the bench.

Nick Crosswell captains the side from lock while Adam Warren wears 13 to ensure he has started all 30 games in a remarkable first season in the east after his move from the Scarlets.

Despite the changes, Jones expects his charges to match Zebre's motivation as they attempt to end a nine-game losing streak in the league that stretches back to January's excellent win against Leinster.

"Matthew Screech spoke at the end of training on Tuesday about how important this is. These players have all been waiting a long time for an opportunity to impress," said Jones.

Titanic lock Bortolami – who captained Italy 40 times and won 112 caps for the Azzurri – will hang his boots up after todays game.

Zebre have won the same amount of games as the Dragons, four, and have Italy half-backs Guglielmo Palazzani and Carlo Canna pulling the strings while wing Leonardo Sarto will hope to sign off with a try before heading to Glasgow in the summer.

Former All Black Mils Muliaina is among the replacements ahead of his summer move to San Francisco to play in the USA professional league and ex-Australia scrum-half Luke Burgess is also on the bench.

The Dragons are yet to win away in the Pro12 this season while Zebre have turned over Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues and Treviso.

Zebre: U Beyers, K van Zyl, T Boni, M Pratichetti, L Sarto, C Canna, G Palazzani, A Lovotti, O Fabiani, G Roan, Q Geldenhuys (captain), M Bortolami, J Meyer, F Cristiano, A van Schalkwyk. Replacements: B Postoglioni, A de Marchi, D Chistolini, G Koegelenberg, F Ruzza, L Burgess, K Haimona, M Muliaina.

Dragons: GR Jones, A Hughes, A Warren, J Dixon, H Amos, A O'Brien, C Davies, P Price, R Buckley, L Fairbrother, M Screech, N Crosswell (captain), J Thomas, J Benjamin, E Jackson. Replacements: E Dee, L Garrett, S Knight, R Landman, H Keddie, S Pretorius, D Jones, C Meyer.

Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)