A CHASTENING debut in Parma and no wins against the two Italian sides means there is no danger of Dragons captain Harri Keddie underestimating Benetton in the Guinness PRO14.

The back row forward will lead his side out to face side from Treviso at Rodney Parade tomorrow (kick-off 3.30pm) as the region hunt a first league success since September.

Their guests, meanwhile, are in red-hot form and are fresh from a fourth PRO14 success on the spin when they upset champions the Scarlets in Italy.

It promises to be a tough game for the Dragons as they look for a third league win of the campaign, but Keddie expects that.

The 21-year-old made his regional debut in a 47-22 hammering at Zebre in May, 2016 and last season was a replacement in the losses at Treviso and Parma.

Keddie has beaten Italy with Wales Under-20s but knows that he will have to play his part if he is to enjoy a first club success this weekend.

"Benetton have got a good pack and look to grind you down, especially when they get into your 22," said Keddie, who is skipper for the fourth game on the bounce.

"They look to get through by force with big runners coming around the corner but they also have a big threat off turnover, as they showed against the Scarlets.

"If we turn the ball over then they will look for the space quickly behind and get their wingers to chase kicks, so we have to be on our toes.

"We need to make sure that we get our back field right and also make sure we don't cough up the ball because they are dangerous on the counter-attack.

"We aren't going to be complacent. They have been a surprise package this year with a good record – they have turned themselves into a really tough team to beat.

"We have to make sure we do everything effectively and accurately in terms of our exits, making sure we don't give away silly penalties in areas where they can piggyback off it with driving mauls. We have to be squeaky clean in our own half."

The Dragons have met Benetton/Treviso 14 times in the league with the record standing at seven wins apiece.

They have lost to the Italians just once at Rodney Parade – when Kris Burton's full house edged a 33-32 win in 2021 – and know they must add another home win.

"If we want to change peoples' perceptions of us then these are games that we have to win," said Keddie.

"We won't underestimate Benetton, because they are team capable of hurting you if you are sloppy, but we want to play attacking rugby.

"They always target us as a game they can win so it's up to us to fire into them and make it uncomfortable, especially in the first 20."

Keddie plays at number eight with Lewis Evans, the Dragons' record appearance holder, returning at blindside after almost four months out with a torn pectoral muscle. That sees Aaron Wainwright moving to openside.

"'Shanksey' has been a great performer for us, so it's massive to have him back for a tough game, while Aaron has been the find of the season," said Keddie.

Dragons: H Amos, J Rosser, T Morgan, J Dixon, R Dyer, Z Kirchner, D Babos, S Hobbs, L Belcher, L Fairbrother, J Davies, R Landman, L Evans, A Wainwright, H Keddie (captain). Replacements: E Shipp, G Ellis, L Brown, H Williams, L Greggains, S Pretorius, A Robson, C Edwards.

Benetton: I McKinley, L Sperandio, T Iannone, L Morisi, M Ioane, M Banks, T Tebaldi, M Zanusso, T Baravelle, T Pasquali, M Lazzaroni, I Hebst, A Sgarbi (captain), M Barbini, W Douglas. Replacements: H Faiva, F Zani, C Traore, M Fuser, F Minto, G Bronzini, M Zanon, A Bronzini.​

Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)