AFTER being on the receiving end the last time the Dragons enjoyed a big derby win, Tavis Knoyle is desperate for success in the red-hot Rodney Parade atmosphere against Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

The scrum-half was a makeshift centre when the men from the Arms Park headed to Rodney Parade in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup in April, 2015.

The Dragons took the spoils in Newport, four months after they had upset the odds in the capital on Boxing Day when Knoyle was a replacement scrum half.

Since then it has been nothing but derby misery for the eastern region – their only two wins were against inexperienced Scarlets teams in the Anglo-Welsh Cup – and the half-back wants to be in the thick of it this weekend in a bid to change the record.

"It will be special for me, having been on both sides," said Knoyle, who is likely to back up Rhodri Williams. "It's exciting, why we play rugby, and I know I'm very privileged to play to this standard. You've got to enjoy every minute.

"Playing at Rodney Parade against the Blues is big. I've been on the other side of the fence and coming to Newport is always difficult.

"We are making it a bit of a fortress again and good results make it harder for teams to come play us.

"It's exciting times, hopefully we will have a packed house and everyone, whether that is playing or supporting, has a role to play.

"We've got to drive standards up all week, get better as a team. It's almost like we are on trial every week, there is no complacency in the team and everyone wants to start the derby."

Knoyle, 28, will cherish occasions like Saturday all the more because of a nightmare 2017/18.

The 11-times capped Wales international featured just once because of ruptured knee ligaments and a wrist injury and this summer vowed to repay the faith shown in him by boss Bernard Jackman, who gave him a one-year contract extension.

Last weekend Knoyle wore 9 on his back for the first time since February, 2017 when putting in a typically forthright display in the 29-13 loss at Glasgow.

"I appreciated every minute. It was quite emotional for me, to be honest, to start the game and get back to that standard," said Knoyle.

"I felt, from the last time I started a game for Dragons, it was a totally different team. The forwards were quite dominant in lot of aspects of play and our defence is getting better and better every week. We are working really hard on it.

"There were a lot of boys in that team who maybe are considered as being on the fringes, including myself. We wanted to make a statement.

"I didn't feel the scoreboard in the end told the full story. Credit to Glasgow, they are an excellent team competing at the highest level in Europe, but we made it hard for them.

"I took a lot from that game and told myself to try and do the basics well and feed the team. It is a big tick in the box for me. I can build my game gradually from that and get better every week and every day in training.

"I love the pressure for starting places, love having people like Gavin Henson breathing down my neck and demanding high standards. I want that feedback.

"We have that balance in the squad now with some older heads as well as the young lads. And a few in the middle of the road like me!"