KINGSLEY Jones has told his Newport Gwent Dragons side they must make another flying start against Zebre but this time keep their foot down to avoid a frustrating night against the tenacious Italians.

The Dragons will bid to end an 11-game losing streak in the Guinness Pro12 when they take on the men from Parma at Rodney Parade this evening (kick-off 7.15pm).

Jones' side were beaten 29-8 at Ulster on opening weekend while Zebre head to Newport on the back of a 59-5 drubbing at the Ospreys, but the head coach doesn't expect to have things as easy as the west Walians.

"There isn't chat about a long losing streak – it's the start of the season and we've lost one game, a tough away game at Ulster," said Jones, whose team won a turgid corresponding fixture 13-0 last year.

"It would be nice to draw a line under that record and Zebre is an opportunity to get back to winning ways but when they go to the Blues and the Ospreys they will fold after 20 minutes, because they don't think that they can win there.

"Unfortunately for the Dragons we are in a position where the teams around us come here and really think they can win. We've got to chance that perception.

"We've got to really start with intensity otherwise it will be a very tough night. It happened last year when they came here and 'parked the bus'."

The Dragons started with a bang in their pre-season encounters with Cardiff Blues and Exeter while in Belfast they led 8-0 after bossing the first quarter.

Jones believes it will take time for his charges to come to terms with their new more expansive approach but wants more than a good half-hour against their guests from Parma.

"There were lots of good things from Ulster and we controlled the game for 30 minutes to take a good lead but lost our composure," he said.

"We need to be more positive and confident in what we do in our own half. That's not going to come overnight and when fatigue kicks in and a bit of pressure comes on it's human nature to do what you've always done."

"We've got Zebre this weekend but it doesn't matter who we are playing, we are at home and have to perform to the same standard that we have in the opening games for 30 minutes for much longer, then we will get the right outcome."

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