Newport Gwent Dragon Andrew Coombs is out to set the record straight this weekend as his side clash with the Ospreys in the RaboDirect PRO12, and in the process wreck his fellow countrymen’s play-off charge.

Coombs was paired during the opening three Six Nations fixtures with Ian Evans, before being replaced for the fixtures against Scotland and England by Alun Wyn Jones.

The Ospreys sit a point behind Scarlets in the race for a top-four finish and will be targeting not only a win but also a bonus point at home to the Dragons.

But Coombs insists the Dragons are out to cause a surprise, while he himself is looking to show interim Wales’ boss Rob Howley and Lions coach Warren Gatland that he can rival the workrate, athleticism and physicality of Ospreys’ duo Evans and Jones.

Toby Faletau returns on the bench for the Dragons after being on Wales’ duty, while Dan Lydiate will make his long-awaited return from injury as well.

Dragons have won their last two away matches in all competitions but have not won three in a row on the road since October 2004. The Men from Gwent have lost their last five PRO12 encounters against fellow Welsh regions.

But Coombs is looking to set that unwanted record straight this weekend:

“Ian and Alun Wyn are massive figureheads in the Wales squad, all the Ospreys boys are really," he told Wales Online.

“You listen when they speak and they have a massive influence on the way the Ospreys play. It will be exciting when I go up against them and I will give it everything I have got.

“They were playing in front of me in the last two games so there’s a point to prove.

“The Ospreys are a powerful set of players and will look to go through the middle of us but there’s an opportunity for us, as a young group, to front up against the best.

“These are the games you look forward to. All of our boys will be really pumped up for the next two weeks (with the Scarlets to follow at the Millennium Stadium) and hopefully we can pick up some points.”

Ospreys have won just one of their last three RaboDirect PRO12 encounters – 24-7 at home to Edinburgh in round 16.

However, the Welshmen have won their last seven PRO12 contests at Liberty Stadium since Glasgow won there, 28-10 in September.

Ospreys welcome back six Wales internationals from the Six Nations with Alun Wyn Jones returning to captain the side alongside Evans in the back row while Adam Jones and Richard Hibbard come into the front row.

Justin Tipuric, man of the match for Wales against England, comes in at openside flanker and Dan Biggar plays at fly-half.

A fixture at home against struggling Dragons is certainly a fixture the Ospreys will hope to win but boss Steve Tandy has warned against complacency.

"It's going to be a tough fortnight with derbies against the Dragons and the Blues," said Tandy. "But the boys are in great spirits coming back and so are the guys who have been here throughout the Six Nations.

"The Dragons are coming off some difficult results, but we know they will be tough opponents.

"It's an important period with the play-offs coming up, but we have been there before and it's a question of using that experience to our advantage.

"We have a job to do and it's about us this weekend.

"We have to keep winning and put pressure on other teams and see where we end up."

At Liberty Stadium , 7.05pm. Live on BBC Wales
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 27th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Wayne Davies (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (WRU)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)