NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are hoping for a post-Six Nations sales spike for their "season decider" with Cardiff Blues after selling under 6,000 tickets for the derby.

The two regional rivals clash at Rodney Parade on Easter Saturday in the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup (kick-off 12.45pm).

The New Year's Day Guinness Pro12 encounter in Newport attracted 8,486 punters through the turnstiles at the 8,500-capacity venue.

But despite a humdinger being on the cards in one of the biggest games that Rodney Parade has seen since the inception of regional rugby, the 'sold out' signs are not close to going up.

Chief executive Stuart Davies hopes that the end of the Six Nations – and the excitement of the Super Saturday points-fest – will lead to an upturn in sales.

"We are coming up to about 6,000 and it was always felt that once the Six Nations was out of the way and the focus could return to what is just an incredible knockout fixture, a season decider," he said. "It was always our thinking that once the Six Nations was over we could give it one last push."

The Dragons could go into the encounter above their regional rivals in the Guinness Pro12 if they win at Treviso on Saturday night and the Blues, currently ninth, lose at Ulster on Friday.

"Both sides will feel that for where they are at the moment and for their future development it's a huge game. There's real bite to it with some great ingredients," said Davies.

It will be a derby double-header at Rodney Parade with Newport hosting Cross Keys in the Principality Premiership at 3.30pm.

There is also set to be a marquee on the 'cabbage patch' between the clubhouse and the stadium with events before and after the quarter-final.

Davies said: "From the moment I joined this date has been in my mind as critical. Yes, from a rugby point of view, but my focus is on making sure we showcase Rodney Parade as best as we can and put on a show. We all appreciate that this is shop window stuff."

For ticket information go to newportgwentdragons.com/tickets or ring 01633 674990. Price range from £10 to £35.