Showdown

And while team manager Jim McCreedy stressed the result was not the "be all and end all" he said the regional side did not want Turner's first game in charge to end in defeat as Australian Chris Anderson's did last season.

"I think Chris treated it as just another day's training," said McCreedy (the Dragons lost 24-14 last August), "but we are treating it in a very professional manner.

"It is an important part of the pre-season build-up to the first Celtic League game against Glasgow and the opportunity for Paul to look at the squad and see how some of our training routines have gone.

"It also gives us an opportunity to see other players within the region and give us an idea who to go to if we get injuries. You have to take the game in context. The result is not the be all and end all but it is always better to win than not.

"I can assure you there were a few players hurting from the defeat last year and there remain a few old wounds."

The Premier side have not had a full complement of players at either of two training sessions and on paper the team looks considerably weaker than last season.

Forwards coach Robert Beale of Cross Keys said: "It has been difficult to prepare but we have tried to keep things simple and we are relying on the players' experience.

"Both Paul Turner and Jim McCreedy (both of whom had an input in choosing the Premier squad) attended our training. They stressed the Dragons would be calling on Premiership players during the season and explained this was an opportunity for players to put themselves in the picture.

"The Premier side beat the Dragons last season and we'd like to do so again, but Paul and his coaches will be more switched on.

"Nevertheless, we will try to pose questions in as many areas as we can.

"We have a good blend of youth and experience and it's an ideal opportunity to assess some of the county's young players."

Scotland international Andrew Hall (signed from Glasgow), outside halves Lee Hinton (from Bedford) and Aled Thomas (Llanelli), prop David Maddocks and lock Bryn Griffiths (both Llanelli) and Wales Under-21s back row Chris Davies are all in the Dragons squad.

Recruits plus development and apprentice players Will Kershaw-Naylor, Richard Payne, Richard Fussell, Alex Walker, Keiron Crawford, Gethin Robinson and Richard Dale are also included.

British Lions Michael Owen and Gareth Cooper and Wales squad members Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney, Ian Gough and Luke Charteris are all absent because of delayed returns.

Steve Jones and James Ireland are recovering from knee operations, Chris Anthony from a shoulder op and Aled Brew is awaiting the result of a scan on a continuing groin problem.

Sione Tuipulotu has only recently returned from playing for Tonga in the World Cup qualifiers but will be available to face Penzance on August 20, while skipper Jason Forster sits the game out.

Hal Luscombe and Gareth Baber, recovering from a summer knee operation and groin problem respectively, are back in training and will have some game time.

"Everyone will play but some will play longer than others as one or two will need to be nursed through," said McCreedy.