CERI Jones says the Dragons pack have to maintain their high standards in Connacht after making light of seven international absentees in Belfast.

The Rodney Parade region head to Galway with the aim of ending their 36-game losing streak on the road in the Guinness PRO14.

If they are to claim that elusive away win then the Dragons need to thrive up front and have returned to Ireland with encouragement courtesy of their battling display at Ulster last weekend.

They lost 36-18 at Kingspan Stadium but posed plenty of problems for the Irish province and won the set piece tussle with a pack that featured Lions Rory Best and Iain Henderson.

The Dragons achieved that despite the absence of captain and lock Cory Hill, hooker Elliot Dee, tighthead Leon Brown, blindside Aaron Wainwright and number eight Ross Moriarty because of Wales duty and openside Ollie Griffiths and lock Brandon Nansen through injury.

"Up front, we had one of our better games, especially after losing so many players," said forwards coach Jones.

"For the next group of boys to stand up and play like we did was pleasing, we dominated at scrum time and our drive was very good, we spoilt seven of their balls and had four clean steals.

"It hasn't been the strongest area for the Dragons traditionally but we are getting better and having that strength in depth with experienced players to come on has been big.

"To lose Leon, Elliot, Cory, Ross, Aaron, Ollie and Brandon, if that had happened in the past we would have really struggled, especially going to a place like Ravenhill.

"To lose that amount of players up front – all internationals – and go to Ulster and give the forward performance that we did is great credit to the players."

More of the same will be needed against their hosts' pack.

"Up front Connacht have been quite strong, they got a pushover try against Ulster and Denis Buckley is a force for them," said Jones.

"How legal he is, I am not entirely sure. Well, I am entirely sure but I probably shouldn't say that!

"Buckley can be a menace for teams if you get it wrong so we will have a plan in place for him. He is very destructive at the scrum and that has been a big weapon for them.

"Connacht like to move the ball and keep the ball for long periods. They do like to drive the ball, so that's something that we have been working on.

"We have a lot of respect for them. Andy Friend coached me at Harlequins, so I know him quite well and the way that he likes to play the game – he likes to keep the ball in hand and he likes to attack.

"He will have a couple of trick plays up his sleeve."

The Dragons haven't won in the road since beating Treviso in March, 2015 while their sole victory at the Sportsground was in the first season of regional rugby in 2004.

They lost heavily at champions Leinster in September but posed problems to two play-off hopefuls in Glasgow and Ulster.

Jones said: "I genuinely believe we are moving in the right direction and we are not far away from the elusive victory, we just have to cut out the silly errors and keep the positives from Ulster going.

"We have been positive through our forward pack and need to keep that going to give our attacking players the ball so that they can create for us."