Dragons boss: Prop Lloyd Fairbrother can be our Samson Lee

The 22-year-old prop signed from Exeter this summer and has worn the number 3 jersey in the Guinness Pro12 clashes against Connacht and the Ospreys.

He has joined forces with Boris Stankovich and Elliot Dee to make a strong start to the season in the tight, traditionally a problem area for the Dragons.

Cornishman Fairbrother, who qualifies for Wales courtesy of his mother from Blaenavon, has impressed the Dragons management with his appetite for graft and been compared to Scarlets strong man Lee.

"Lloyd will cause a lot of teams problems," said head coach Kingsley Jones. "He's about 5ft 6ins if he's lucky (he's actually 5ft 9ins) and is a fantastic shape for a tighthead prop so tall looseheads will find it difficult against him.

"He has been excellent since joining us and has really worked hard; he is a young man who wants to improve and has already developed a lot in a short space of time.

"Lloyd has a bright future and is a similar player to Samson Lee. His skill set is excellent; he can pass well off both hands and works hard in defence. He has done really well for us so far."

Hooker Dee believes the Dragons will soon reap the rewards of proving to the officials that they are no longer a soft touch at the set piece.

"We've started off on the right foot," said the 20-year-old from Newbridge, who has kept former Wales international Rhys Thomas on the bench.

"Maybe referees have a bad perception of us at the scrum and those 50/50 calls go against us but it's about changing that.

"If we can be dominant, which I am sure we can, then we will start getting the free-kicks and penalties.

"This year we are trying to build the platform up front that hasn't been there over the years, we have got a bit of an edge about us and leaders in the team that spur people on."

The Dragons spent yesterday training with Bath at the Aviva Premiership side's plush training base at Farleigh House.