CAPTAIN Richard Hibbard believes the Dragons' battling display in Belfast can give them the belief to end their Guinness PRO14 away drought on their swift return to Ireland.

The Rodney Parade region head to Galway to take on Connacht on Saturday (kick-off 5.15pm) after a fighting performance at Ulster last Friday.

The hosts ran out 36-18 winners at Kingspan Stadium but the Dragons posed them problems and were left to lament some late missed chances as they hunted a losing bonus point.

The region haven't won away from Newport in the league since beating Treviso in March, 2015 – a losing streak of 36 games (plus derby losses at Principality Stadium and against Cardiff Blues in Caerphilly) – but former Wales and Lions hooker Hibbard believes their Ulster effort has boosted their confidence.

"There were lots of positives and it is a step forward," said the 34-year-old who is starting in the absence of Elliot Dee and captaining while Cory Hill is also away for the autumn internationals.

"In the last 15 minutes we were in touching distance of them about a thousand times and just couldn't get over the line. They then breakaway and score.

"Those opportunities are the ones we have got to take and finish. The frustration is that we haven't taken over chances.

"Our scrum and lineout went really well, we put pressure on them in the set piece.

"We gave them a big lead and got back into it. Just before half-time we got close but conceded again.

"There are lots of positives, but we need to be clinical and cut out the mistakes that are hurting us.

"The key is to take real belief from that game. I am super proud of the boys, we stuck together until the end and the fight we showed was great. We played for each other."

After the encouragement of Belfast, Hibbard has demanded that the Dragons take another stride at the Sportsground.

"We have to back it up and go to Connacht and perform," he said. "It was a step forward and we must take another this week until we get that win that we know is coming."

Hibbard has been an influential figure off the field since returning to Wales from Gloucester; the importance of his mentorship was a key factor in him getting a three-year deal.

And the 38-times capped hooker was impressed by the performances of some of the Dragons' next generation at Kingspan Stadium.

"Some of the young lads really stepped up. I thought Will (Talbot-Davies, wing) was just fantastic for us, he showed some real power out there and never stopped running," said Hibbard.

"(Harri) Keddie has been out for a while so to come back from injury and do an 80-minute performance like that was impressive. Taine (Basham) came on and showed just what he has been doing for the Under-23s.

"There were some great individual performances, but it is about putting it together as a team."

The Dragons have won just once in Galway - in the first season of regional rugby when head coach Bernard Jackman was on the bench for Connacht.

They triumphed 32-14 at the Sportsground thanks to tries by fly-half Craig Warlow, centre Percy Montgomery and wings Hal Luscumbe and Nathan Brew.

Connacht will be without Ireland internationals Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux and Bundee Aki after they were named in the travelling squad for Saturday's Test with Italy in Chicago.