DRAGONS boss Dean Ryan wants to avoid the daunting prospect of winning in Castres by 'nailing down' one of their back-to-back European Challenge Cup clashes with Worcester.
The Rodney Parade region head to Sixways this afternoon (kick-off 3pm) with a perfect 10 points courtesy of their bonus-point wins against Castres and Enisei-STM.
If they can win one of their encounters with the Warriors then the Dragons will be in a strong position to make the last eight, whether as Pool One winners of as a best runner-up.
If they are doubled by the West Midlanders then Ryan's men will need to triumph in their round five visit to Castres.
They beat the 2018 Top14 champions 31-17 in Newport thanks to tries by Taine Basham (3) and Dafydd Howells but the Frenchmen beat Worcester at the Stade Pierre-Fabre last month, while Exeter, Munster and Gloucester were all turned over there in the Champions Cup last season.
That record is focusing Dragons minds ahead of their two fixtures against Worcester.
"These two games don't decide the pool but they set it up, and having to possibly get something from Castres," said Ryan.
"We've got to get something out of the next couple of weeks and if we do then we put ourselves in a really strong position to push on in the group. We will see whether that starts this weekend.
"We need to get one of these nailed down. Castres away is still something in the back of everybody's minds because they won't be the same Castres that played at Rodney Parade.
"It's crucial that we keep some momentum and put ourselves in a strong position."
Ryan returns to Sixways, where he was director of rugby between 2013 and 2016.
"I worry less about going back to clubs now! It will be nice to see some old faces and some friends, it will be great to see (chairman) Cecil Duckworth, who I have a huge amount of time for," said Ryan, who also coached Bristol and Gloucester.
"Ryan Mills and GJ van Velze were instrumental in some of the things we did but it's a different management group and a different ownership group.
"Places move on very quickly in modern sport but there are some great people there and I had some good times.
"It didn't necessarily end the way we would've wanted it to but that's life."
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