RHODRI Williams says the Dragons are ready to adapt if the rain stays away on the plastic pitch at Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day.

The Rodney Parade region head to the capital in fine spirits thanks to back-to-back tense home wins in horrendous conditions.

They took the spoils against Worcester in the European Challenge Cup thanks to Sam Davies' perfect kicking from the tee and the fly-half was again the hero with a last-gasp drop goal to beat the Scarlets last weekend.

Dean Ryan arrived in the summer with the intention of playing fast, expansive rugby but the weather has frequently thrown a spanner in the works. Of their 12 fixtures so far this season, six have been played in torrential rain.

Alas, the early forecast for Thursday is afternoon rain in the capital meaning it may well be down Williams and half-back partner Sam Davies to adopt a canny approach.

South Wales Argus:

"We stuck at it in poor conditions against the Scarlets," said the scrum-half. "To come away with the result was a huge step forward, as a squad we took a step in the right direction.

"The Scarlets were fully-loaded and you love playing in games like that, challenging yourself against a high quality side that put us under pressure.

"It's a different pitch in Cardiff, a fast track, so it will be a different game to last weekend. They are going really well so it will be a good challenge and we will adapt our game for different conditions."

Last December Williams & Co ended a four-year derby losing streak when they beat the Ospreys in Newport and they followed that up by beating the Scarlets at Judgement Day.

Last weekend's win against the men from Llanelli has taken some pressure off ahead of the short trip to the capital but the captain has demanded they keep their foot down as they hunt a first league success against the Blues in five years.

He said: "We've had a good run in derbies recently but lose on Boxing Day and we are on the back foot again, so hopefully we can keep that progress and put another step in the right direction and keep building.

"The celebrations last weekend showed what it means to us and the club. Results like that against a quality side shows we are 100 per cent going in the right way.

"We don't pile a lot of pressure on ourselves, it's a long-term plan and we are not going to judge ourselves on one performance.

"Even after the win against the Scarlets it's not as though we are top of the league and going to win the Grand Final, but it was a step in the right direction and we've got to get the performance in place again on Boxing Day."

South Wales Argus:

Both sides are looking to make it a derby double at the Arms Park after winning last weekend.

The Blues dug deep to take the spoils against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium thanks to former Dragon Jason Tovey's late penalty.

Home boss John Mulvihill is hoping that a packed Arms Park will inspire his charges against a dangerous visiting side.

"The Dragons have played some good rugby this year, and if you give penalties away then Sam Davies will kick to the corner, or kick his three points," said the Australian.

"They have an exciting back row, but Josh Navidi will probably get some game time (after his World Cup injury) and Shane Lewis-Hughes (man of the match in Swansea) will be up against Aaron Wainwright, so he'll be up for it and probably won't have any sleep.

"I haven't been to a Boxing Day derby at Cardiff Arms Park, but we had some big crowds last year and the place was bouncing.

"Hopefully it will be sold out, we'll have a nice day and it'll be brilliant. We'll look to play quick rugby, which should make for a good game because Dragons also like to play quite fast."