RODNEY Parade will be packed to the rafters on Monday with punters demanding a brutal derby when Cardiff Blues come to town – and Newport Gwent Dragons don’t intend sending them home disappointed.

Every effort is being made to clear snow from the pitch, terraces and surrounding areas so that the east Wales derby can go ahead.

The collisions promise to be monumental between two sides that head into the game on the back of European nightmares.

The Blues will be attempting to get back-to-back Heineken Cup losses to Northampton out of their system while the Dragons will look to get back on track after suffering the same fate against Wasps.

The celebrations have been in the capital after each of the last eight encounters and Dragons coach Paul Turner believes the way to end that sequence is not a complicated tactic – simply smash them.

"You have to match the Blues for their physicality," he said. "They are a powerful side and you have got to muscle up to them both offensively and defensively.

"They have developed as a region over the past number of years and their overseas quota tend to bring their ‘A game’ most weeks.

"We are well aware of the quality they have in their side but we are always very good at Rodney Parade and the games with them are always tight here.

"It’s a local derby in front of a packed house at Rodney Parade so it will be pretty fiery."

The Blues are unlikely to be caught by surprise by a physical Dragons side – Wales star Gethin Jenkins made a prediction to mirror that of Turner.

“I expect a typical derby – a big crowd, big occasion with nobody holding anything back,” said the loosehead prop.

“There are two quality sides looking for a win that could push them up the Magners League table.

“Like us the Dragons have lost two games in Europe so will be desperate for a victory in front of their own fans.

“When we played them earlier in the season it was a tough game for 50 minutes and then we scored a few tries.

“But we know that they have a few boys back from injury and know that it is going to be a tough encounter.”