THE Dragons will go fully loaded with their Wales stars against Russian minnows Enisei-STM on Friday to ensure they avoid a banana skin in their bid for the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

The Rodney Parade region will secure a place in the last eight of the tournament if they win against the Pool One whipping boys with a bonus in Newport (kick-off 8pm).

If leaders Castres slip up in Worcester then the Dragons will progress as group winners and if the French side triumph at Sixways then the region will go through as one of the best runners-up.

Dean Ryan's men cannot earn a last eight tie at Rodney Parade but they should avoid slipping up against Enisei-STM, although they didn't secure a four-try bonus when hosting the Russians in 2018.

The management are monitoring a number of bumps and bruises after the 42-14 hammering by Castres last weekend when they were overpowered by the 2018 French champions.

However, they won't wrap up their senior players in cotton wool even though a number of them will be heading off for the Six Nations with Wales after this weekend.

That means the likes of Aaron Wainwright, Elliot Dee (pictured below), Cory Hill, Leon Brown, Ross Moriarty and Sam Davies are set to be charged with getting the job done against Enisei-STM.

South Wales Argus:

"We will pick the strongest side that is available," said backs coach Barry Maddocks. "All the guys that are fit will be picked, for sure."

"We had a bit of a physical battle on Saturday so there are a couple of guys that are struggling but there are ones to come back in," he continued.

"Adam Warren (severe nosebleed) is back in the mix and Aaron Wainwright (rested) will come back in, but it's touch and go with Ashton Hewitt (calf)."

The Dragons are still without suspended loosehead Brok Harris and former Wales prop Aaron Jarvis is not yet back from injury.

That is likely to lead to tighthead Lloyd Fairbrother continuing on the left-hand side of the front row.

The Dragons kick off the European weekend but know, courtesy of Toulon beating the Scarlets in Llanelli, that they don't need Saturday results to go their way as long as they secure the bonus-point win.

"It's good for the boys to have a clear understanding of it," said Maddocks. "It's in their hands and it's up to us to perform and play well in order to get the result.

"We are in charge of our own destiny and what it is important is that we get something out of it after the hard work that has been done in earlier rounds.

"To be the only Welsh region in the quarter-finals would be nice, although the others have had tough games and groups. For us to get out of this group would be a big plus."