ROSS Moriarty is hungry to make an impact with the Dragons and will give them the physical edge to get their season up and running against the Southern Kings on Saturday, says scrum-half Rhodri Williams.

The Wales and Lions back row forward is poised to make his debut for the Rodney Parade region in the vital Guinness PRO14 encounter in Newport (kick-off 3pm).

The 24-year-old was the most high profile of 14 new recruits that head coach Bernard Jackman made but was an onlooker on opening weekend after being sent off against Argentina in June.

Suspended Moriarty watched from the Bisley Stand as the Dragons misfired on opening weekend, producing an error-strewn performance in a 21-17 loss to well-drilled Benetton.

Scrum-half Williams, who scored a try on debut to salvage a losing bonus, believes that the Wales international will give them a shot in the arm.

"Ross will bring plenty of energy and physicality," said three-times capped half-back, who signed from Bristol. "He will bring that edge that he did week in, week out for Gloucester and Wales. It will be a big boost.

"In training he has come in with hunger and you can see that he is a quality player; we don't do that much training with a physical edge but he will bring that – I wouldn't fancy him running down my channel."

Williams and his teammates are licking their wounds after their opening night horror show and have no margin for error this weekend.

The Dragons entertain a Kings side who won just once last season – against Jackman's men in Port Elizabeth – and who were beaten 32-16 at Zebre on Friday.

Williams cut a frustrated figure after the game but insists there is no need to hit the panic button.

"We weren't quite clinical enough in the 22," he said. "We had a chance in the corner with a dropped ball, three attacking lineouts, we slipped up and made mistakes.

"We will look back on that and build for the Kings – the lucky thing with rugby is that we get the chance to do it all again this week, and at home.

"We are not going to just park it, we will learn from mistakes and build. We have got to get things in order.

"It was the first game of the season, there are plenty of things to work on and plenty of positives as well; we created opportunities but just have to take them.

"We are not miles off it, if everything was falling apart then it would be different. Benetton are a good side who won 11 games last year, they are not the side they used to be and have very good players.

"They beat us by four points and it was a positive that at least we got a bonus point when heads could have gone down and we could have given up.

"Benetton have a winning habit from last year, once we cut out the individual errors and we click we will start winning and be fine.

"It will take time to click but against Benetton it was more about individual errors. Small mistakes and we compounded errors."

Williams partnered former Wales and Lions playmaker Gavin Henson against Benetton after Josh Lewis, a summer signing from Bath, wore 10 on his back in all three pre-season games.

It was a tight call to go with the experienced fly-half for opening weekend and Jackman has another decision to mull over.

"We have quality outside halves," said Williams. "Gav doesn't need introducing to anybody, he is outstanding and so is Josh, he had a very good pre-season.

"Gav has plenty of chat and will definitely tell you what you have done wrong, which is what you want [as a scrum-half]."