CERI Jones is calling the shots after being named as Dragons caretaker coach and admits he faces a tough decision over where to play captain Cory Hill in Friday’s derby at Cardiff Blues.

The Wales lock started in the back row in the European Challenge Cup defeat at Clermont Auvergne, slotting in at blindside next to fellow Test internationals Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty.

Hill is a shoo-in for the XV against his former region at the Arms Park on Friday (kick-off 7.35pm) but the Blues on a plastic pitch present different challenges to the hefty pack of the Top 14 leaders at Stade Marcel Michelin.

Jones, who will hold the reins in the three festive derbies after the dismissal of head coach Bernard Jackman last week, has plenty of options for the 6 jersey.

“I thought that the balance of the pack was reasonably good,” said Jones. “We have seen Cory in the wide channels for Wales as well and he can be very effective there.

“We gave a strong forward performance against a big pack and that is something that pleased me.

“It’s a really hard decision [in the back row] because you have got James Benjamin, Nic Cudd, Harrison Keddie, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright to just name a few. There are a lot of good players there.

“It has been the same decision-making process all the way through from when Bernard was here. We have a coaches’ discussion early in the week and have already spoken about different points in selection.

“We all give input, you all mull it over and try and make the best decision possible going into that weekend.”

Jones was in charge for the 49-24 loss in Clermont and will continue to lead the Dragons until early January while the board hunt a permanent replacement for Jackman.

The former Wales, Newport, Harlequins and Worcester prop says he isn’t interested in the top job, that he is just concentrating on the clashes with the Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets.

“I will carry on while they search for the best candidate,” he said. “It came out of the blue, all of it has, but you just have to try and step up the best that you can.

“The players have been excellent in their response and they brought a lot of energy in their performance.

“We are just focusing on that with regard to the festive games – it’s easy for the players in a way because they can focus on these big derbies and they are very easy to get emotionally right for.”

“For me it’s just purely focusing on doing the best possible job I can within my forwards coach role,” he continued.

“I intend to step up and do a job now but the board have made it very clear that they are looking for somebody world class to come in as a head coach.

“For me it’s just doing the best possible job I can over this Christmas period and then I go back to my day job.”