DON'T have ideas above your station, the Prosecco and Peroni will be flowing in April if the Dragons can match last season's exploits by Benetton; the team from Treviso are one that the Rodney Parade region aspires to be.

That statement will be remarkable to some – a Welsh side looking up to Italians – yet, for now at least, it is an accurate one.

Firstly, it must be pointed out to those with delusions of grandeur just how good Benetton were in 2017/18.

They won 11 of 21 games plus secured losing bonuses in half of their defeats. Wins on the road are hard to come by in pro rugby yet Kieran Crowley's side triumphed in Edinburgh, Parma, Newport, Port Elizabeth and, most impressively, Dublin.

Benetton played with an edge, were aggressive, were smarter and looked fitter than in previous seasons.

Secondly, it must be pointed out how bad the Dragons were in 2017/18, and in the years before it for that matter.

The first campaign under Bernard Jackman provided just two league wins but the tally was just four in the two seasons prior to his arrival.

In fact, you've got to go back to 2010/11 for the last time the Dragons made it into double figures in the W column, while they have only bettered Benetton's 11 once – their first year in 2003/4 when Mike Ruddock had them in contention for the title with 16 wins from 22 fixtures.

The Dragons have not won away from Rodney Parade since Treviso in March, 2015 while their last derby win, home or away, was Boxing Day, 2014 at Cardiff Arms Park.

So it's fair to say that the region are not in a position to look down their noses at anybody.

In Europe's three professional leagues only the Southern Kings, who had the excuse of the absence of pre-season and a first year in the northern hemisphere, had a worse record in 2017/18 than the Dragons.

We just have to be grateful that relegation wasn't possible, a horrendous fate experienced by London Irish, Oyonnax and Brive.

It was a nightmare campaign for the Dragons but we've been through this all before and the reasons behind the misery, now is a time for looking forward.

August is always a month filled with hope in rugby, every squad is looking sharp and targets (with the caveat of getting the rub of the green with injury) are set high.

At this point, I will make possibly the most gutless of predictions – the Dragons will have a better season than 2017/18. If they don't then frankly they should just let Colwyn Bay have a crack.

Jackman has had his first chance at shaping his squad with at least a handful of quality recruits set to follow through the door next summer.

Of the signings, nine are potential first-teamers (Ryan Bevington, Richard Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Brandon Nansen, Rhodri Williams, Ross Moriarty, Josh Lewis, Dafydd Howells and Jordan Williams) while sharp and exciting scrum-half Rhodri Davies, firmly behind Rhodri Williams in the pecking order, looks to be a shrewd bit of business.

Jackman has also had his first chance at shaping his backroom team, albeit he couldn't quite get a deal done for Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards to provide guidance for Hendre Marnitz.

The busy summer means that there must be signs of real, tangible progress in the middle season of the former Ireland hooker's three-year plan.

The Dragons have set their own targets internally but my demands would be at least six PRO14 successes, a derby win, the end of the drought on the road and more losing bonuses.

I would love to throw Euro success in the mix, but I fear that is unrealistic with Clermont Auvergne and Northampton joining them in Pool One

Six victories wouldn't be reason for a special post-season supplement in the Argus (see Saturday's paper for a special 12-page pre-season pull-out, by the way) but it would be a reasonable effort and a platform to build on.

Last year was so bad that it has made supporters even more impatient for success but that edginess cannot cloud judgement of what would be a relative accomplishment.

It would be a delight if the Dragons were to head into the last third of the regular season in contention for Champions Cup qualification but baby steps will do for now.

After being cut adrift with the Kings last season, the very least we can expect is for Jackman & Co to be closer to Benetton, Zebre, Connacht, Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys in the coming season.

In years to come the Dragons can set loftier ambitions, but for now a Benetton-style season would be the stuff of dreams.

A THEME of the summer has been the Dragons' improved depth and the ability to cope better with injuries.

However, the region's meagre budget means that they still lag behind their rivals and are reliant on several key individuals staying off the treatment table.

Down the spine of their pack they need Wales stars Elliot Dee, Cory Hill and Ross Moriarty to feature prominently, behind the scrum they need Rhodri Williams to steer the ship and Hallam Amos to provide the moments of class.

Yet it is a man who is currently a one-cap wonder who in my opinion is vital to the Dragons' hopes this season.

Ollie Griffiths is a talent with every chance of adding to the Test appearance he made against Tonga in 2017 (when Robin McBryde mystifyingly only gave him a couple of minutes off the bench then left him out against Samoa).

Bernard Jackman is blessed with back row options yet the 23-year-old from Newbridge would be the first man on my team sheet, even with the arrival of Moriarty.

Griffiths' dynamism transforms the Dragons with his combination of explosive carrying, a terrific work rate and a jackal threat.

Last season he managed just 11 games after jaw, ankle and hip injuries but in 2016/17 he managed 22 and swept the board at the end of season awards.

Get back to that form and the Dragons will have a good campaign… and Griffiths will have a summer with Wales trying to make it into Warren Gatland's World Cup squad.