Dragons head coach Darren Edwards has urged his players to step up to the challenge when they take on Munster at Thomond Park as they seek a first win in Ireland for four years.

The Dragons come into the game with one win under their belts so far in the RaboDirect PRO12 – a 37-6 opening day win over Zebre.

Since then they have fallen to defeats against the Blues and Leinster and Edwards wants an immediate response to turn things around.

He said: "We need a really good performance to build momentum and we have to go out there and fight fire with fire.

"That's a strength of plenty of players in our squad, they like confrontation and I want them to respond to the challenge.

“There was no momentum against the Blues because of the 17 penalties and I've heard the referee getting criticism for the contact area.

"But you are on a slippery slope if you start concentrating on that (rather than the Dragons' failings) and I cannot allow that to happen.

"We go out to Munster to play a team that are playing well, then have a home game against Edinburgh and then play the Scarlets away.

"There are periods of the season when we need results or the pressure will really build.”

In an effort to turn things around Edwards has made five changes to the team which lost at Rodney Parade last time out, with Adam Hughes and Ashley Smith forming a new-look centre partnership.

Lewis Robling replaces Steffan Jones at fly-half while Jevon Groves and Tom Brown earn starts in the back row.

Munster were also beaten in their last RaboDirect PRO12 outing – a 20-19 reverse against Ulster at Ravenhill.

Rob Penney has reacted by making eight chances to his starting lineup with Irish internationals Keith Earls, Simon Zebo, Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer all coming into the backline.

Up front Marcus Horan and Mike Sherry start in the front row while Niall Ronan and Paddy Butler get the nod at seven and eight respectively.

Second row Billy Holland keeps his place with Paul O’Connell still injured and he admits the Limerick outfit are expecting a physical battle at Thomond Park.

He said: “The Dragons are a very physical outfit, whether it’s home or away and they always front up in the pack. We had a physical game Friday night, no doubt about that, but we’ve got to dust ourselves down and bring another level of intensity and physicality.

"They score tries from anywhere and always have a few strange things up their sleeves which are hard to defend and they’re a very tough team."

At Thomond Park, 8pm.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 10th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, David Connolly (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)

Live on TG4