NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are set to bring back their old heads for their derby with the Scarlets as they bid to stay on a roll at Rodney Parade.

The Dragons will try and make it three home wins on the spins welcome the west Walians to Newport in the Anglo-Welsh on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm).

They produced their best performance of the season in their five-try, 37-16 success against a powerful Brive side in the European Rugby Challenge Cup and beat Guinness Pro12 champions Connacht 21-16 a fortnight ago thanks to a tenacious defensive display.

The Dragons have not won a Welsh derby since beating Cardiff Blues in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup in April, 2015 and forwards coach Ceri Jones wants to give the home faithful plenty to cheer.

"The crowd are getting more and more behind us at home," said the former prop from Usk. "We've gone from Brive to Connacht and if we win again then Rodney Parade is going to get a harder and harder place to come and get a result.

"We really want to make Rodney Parade a fortress because it's not the easiest place to come and play and we want to keep it like that."

The Dragons have flourished at home recently but have struggled on the road and were smashed 42-3 by Leicester at Welford Road in the Anglo-Welsh Cup opener last Saturday.

They gave debuts to five players – tighthead Leon Brown, Bedwas lock/back row Robson Blake, flanker Josh Skinner, fly-half Arwel Robson and full-back Will Talbot-Davies – but are looking to build towards the return of league rugby when Edinburgh visit a week on Sunday.

"We will go a little bit stronger than Leicester while giving a couple of young guys opportunities again after they shone," said Jones. "A lot of the boys that weren't involved last weekend will come back in."

The Dragons will once again have the services of Brown and back row forward Harri Keddie, who have been helping Wales with their autumn preparations, while fly-half Angus O'Brien is available after missing Leicester with a head injury.

Captain and flanker Lewis Evans is unlikely to be risked because of a calf problem while Tom Prydie is out with the knee injury that forced him off at half-time at Welford Road.

The Dragons, who were edged out 31-27 by the Scarlets out west in the Pro12 in October, need to win to keep within striking distance of Northampton and Saracens in the battle for a place in the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh Cup, with the Aviva Premiership sides having already played two fixtures.

The tournament pits teams from Pool One against those from Pool Four with the Saints currently leading the way on eight points while Sarries have seven and Bath have a solitary losing bonus. The Dragons head to Gloucester and host Newcastle in the New Year.