THE Newport Gwent Dragons pack have been promised a warm reception in ice cold Bucharest on Saturday.

The Rodney Parade region will attempt to avoid a banana skin in Romania when they resume their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign.

The Dragons stunned Stade Francais in Paris in their Pool Three opener but came a cropper when Newcastle visited Newport, leaving them with no margin for error against Bucharest.

They will need to be on their game at the Stadium Arcul de Triumf against a Wolves side that qualified by beating Calvisano and were edged out 13-9 by the Top 14 giants in October.

The Dragons have struggled at the scrum and driving lineout in recent weeks and Bucharest director of rugby Lynn Howells, the former Pontypridd and Celtic Warriors coach, has promised another stern examination up front.

"We will certainly be competitive up front, that's what Romanian rugby is all about," said Howells.

"The number of props over here is unbelievable and they are just a naturally big race. They only know one way – scrums and driving lineouts."

The Wolves are a side put together with players from the domestic league and while that means they aren't as polished they certainly won't lack spirit or be affected by the freezing conditions as they attempt to impress national coach Howells in World Cup year.

The Romania squad that loss narrowly to the USA and Japan and beat Canada this autumn featured 12 players registered for Bucharest but most seasoned Test campaigners play in France.

"The players know that this competition is providing them with an opportunity to play at a higher level and everything is building towards the World Cup," said Howells.

"This is the next generation and we don't just have 2015 in mind but 2019. They will give everything that they've got. They will try and try, so I just hope we give the Dragons a good game."

Conditions will certainly be in their favour, although Saturday's forecast is for an unseasonably mild 4C.

"I look out of my window and it's snowing," he said. "The amount on the ground would stop everything in Wales but here everything goes on as normal and there's no chance of it affecting the game.

"It will be cold but the players are unbelievable. They are quite happy to go out and dig the snow off the field and train whereas back home there would be no chance of them leaving the training ground.

"They are excited by the challenge. The Dragons have given themselves every opportunity of making it out of the group by beating Stade Francais but will need to be on their game up front, and Kingsley (Jones, head coach) will know that after coming here with Russia."