NICK Crosswell says Newport Gwent Dragons' record in France shows they can break their away duck in their 'knockout' European Rugby Challenge Cup clash against Brive.

The Dragons head to the Stade Amedee-Domenech on Saturday (kick-off 2pm) needing to win either 5-1 or 4-0 in match day points to top Pool Three and qualify for the quarter-finals.

Kingsley Jones men have not won away from Rodney Parade this season and are underdogs against a Brive club who are fuelled by the desire to mark the 20th anniversary of their European Cup triumph.

However, not only did the Dragons beat the Top 14 side 37-16 when the sides met in Newport in October but they have enjoyed remarkable successes at Stade Francais and Pau in recent seasons while they pushed Castres hard and gave a star-studded Montpellier side a bloody nose in last year's semi-finals.

"We've beaten them at home so that shows they are a beatable side," said Crosswell, who is poised to return to lock after playing blindside flanker in last week's win against Enisei-STM.

"They will be different in France but we have been over there in the last couple years and had some wins against some pretty good sides.

"It's a massive challenge but one that we are willing to accept and one that we think we can do.

"I wasn't here for Stade Francais but by all accounts the boys played really well and then we were stoked to get a win against a really good Pau team.

"The boys put in a creditable performance against a massive Montpellier side when nobody gave us a shot. The fact we were more than competitive shows that we can fight it out with them.

"We need that mindset again and to just get stuck into Brive."

The New Zealander says the Dragons, semi-finalists for the past two seasons, are relishing the win-or-bust nature of the game.

"We either carry on or this is it," he said. "We've gone well in this competition and had some wins against pretty good sides, it's an important competition for us.

"To play in the semi-final of a tough tournament is a big achievement for any rugby player, so the boys want to be back there. The knockout stages start a game earlier this time.

"We'll just take it one game at a time – we'll just try to knock these off and then who knows what can happen."

And the forward expects to be in the thick of the action as they attempt to repeat the trick after scoring five tries thanks to a late charge against a powerful Brive side in round one.

"We got stuck in, didn't overplay and had a crack up front. It will be much the same this time," said the 30-year-old.

"They've got a big number eight and a big 12 that they use pretty effectively, they have a big heavy French pack with a good lineout drive and decent scrum.

"We expect a battle up front and for them to use their big ball carriers, so if we can stop them getting yards and getting on the front foot then it'll make our job a lot easier."

Two Brive players were named in France's Six Nations squad yesterday - lock Julien Le Devedec and flanker Fabien Sanconnie.