CARETAKER boss Ceri Jones took heart from the Dragons' battling display at Cardiff Blues but knows that ending the derby losing streak is all that matters against the Ospreys on Sunday.

The region will attempt to end their nightmare run against Welsh rivals when they welcome the Ospreys to Rodney Parade this weekend (kick-off 3pm).

The Dragons haven't won a derby since Boxing Day, 2014 and suffered an agonising 23rd straight loss in Cardiff last Friday when downed 19-16 by Gareth Anscombe's penalty with the last kick.

The squad have taken encouragement from their display against the odds at the Arms Park after playing with 14 men for an hour because of Zane Kirchner's yellow card and Lloyd Fairbrother's red.

But Jones, holding the reins while the Dragons hunt a permanent successor to Bernard Jackman, knows that victory rather than pluckiness in defeat is what matters in Newport.

"I will not shy away from the fact that it's a results business. As good as the performance was, we all need that result," said the forwards coach.

"It was really unfortunate that we didn't get more out of the Blues game, but that's gone now and we have to forget about that and focus on the weeks to come.

"It was a really good performance from the whole team. We've just got to repeat that, I have spoken to the players about making sure it wasn't a one-off.

"Yes, it was a good performance because of the circumstances but the fact of the matter is that we didn't get the win that we wanted.

"We have to back that up and give a really good performance against a strong Ospreys team.

"We are not shying away from needing to win one of these derbies, we understand more than anyone else that we need to nail one down."

The Dragons returned to training yesterday to prepare for the derby against the Ospreys, who edged out the Scarlets 19-12 in Swansea last weekend.

"The advantage of facing another Welsh region is that you know a little bit about their game already," said Jones.

"The Ospreys are a good team and showed that last weekend – they have a good kicking game, loads of power and a good defensive line.

"There are a lot of challenges but we have to look at ourselves and the performance that we put onto the pitch last week, when we were dominant in a lot of areas.

"We are in a good place and phases of our play were outstanding with good ambition to play, we intend to go out there and do the same thing."

The Dragons name their team at midday with Wales centre Tyler Morgan in contention after missing the Blues derby with concussion, although it is unlikely that the midfield partnership of Jarryd Sage and Adam Warren will be broken up after a strong display in the capital.

Wales back row forward Ross Moriarty is set to miss out again after also reporting concussion symptoms in the aftermath of the loss in Clermont.

Ex-Osprey Aaron Jarvis will start at tighthead because of Fairbrother's three-week ban for the red card.

It is the Dragons' last home derby with trips to Llanelli and Swansea followed by the Judgement Day meeting with the Scarlets at Principality Stadium.