Newport Gwent Dragons captain Andrew Coombs has urged his side to continue their fantastic RaboDirect PRO12 start against high-flying Ospreys on Friday night.

The Dragons sit sixth in the table after winning three of their opening five games, but they have not beaten Ospreys in the RaboDirect PRO12 since January 2012.

Indeed, the Men from Gwent have only ever won three away games at fellow Welsh regions in 33 attempts in all competitions and have won only one of their previous eight visits to Liberty Stadium.

In order to rectify that, director of rugby Lyn Jones has made seven changes from the clash against Bath Rugby in the Amlin Challenge Cup, with Coombs returning.

Lewis Robling makes his first start of the season, while Tom Prydie steps in on the wing with Kris Burton starting at fly-half.

There is only one change in the front row as young gun Sam Parry steps in at hooker and in the back row Jevon Groves moves into the flanker position.

“We are sitting sixth in the league and it’s not something that we have achieved for a number of years,” said Coombs. “It’s been a fantastic start but it’s all about keeping it going.

“The Ospreys are going to be hurting a lot after their losses, including two Heineken Cup games, but it’s going to be a difficult evening for us.

“Whenever you play the Ospreys it’s always going to be difficult because of the quality of players they have.

“They know how to turn things around they have been in this position before and they have come through it before.

“No doubt on Friday night they are going to be on fire and it’s just important that we are on top of our game to win that match.”

Ospreys will be looking to keep their charge at the top of the table up – Steve Tandy’s troops sit third at present having lost just once this term.

But they have slipped to three straight defeats in all competitions, two of those encounters being played at Liberty Stadium, where they have not lost three in a row since 2004.

The Swansea-based side have had the better of their last eight encounters with fellow Welsh regions in the RaboDirect PRO12, though, with the Dragons actually the last side to emerge victorious from the Liberty Stadium in October 2010.

And head coach Tandy insists they need to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.

"A game like this one is the perfect way for us to pick ourselves up and go again,” he said. “This group has plenty of fight and spirit and are determined to do themselves justice, starting on Friday night.

"This is an important time of the season for us, one where we have traditionally done well when the core group and the spirit they have pulls us through.

“It won't be any different this season. There'll be boys coming into the 23 who will see it as a real opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place and we'll be encouraging that attitude as it will help to drive this squad on.

"It's a Welsh derby so that gives the game a bit of something extra. We've started the PRO12 well and with three of the next four games in the competition at home it's important that we make that count.”

At Liberty Stadium, 7.05pm. Live on BBC Wales
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 100th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Jon Mason (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Jones (WRU)
TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU)