GIVEN that he has endured a last-gasp heartbreak and a thumping defeat on his two trips to the notoriously partisan Ravenhill with Newport Gwent Dragons, it would be understandable if Adam Hughes' shoulders sagged when facing a trip to Ulster.

However, the 25-year-old outside centre relishes games in Belfast and Friday's Guinness Pro12 clash is no exception.

His first visit to the famous venue, now called the Kingspan Stadium, ended in despair in March of 2011 when South African half-back Ruan Pienaar banged over a drop goal at the death to snatch a 25-23 victory.

The following season it was a pretty tight contest until the final quarter when the Ulstermen stretched clear for a 30-12 win.

Perhaps it's because he has won on Northern Irish soil in the colours of Exeter – a 22-21 pre-season win in the summer of 2014 – but the ground holds no demons for Hughes.

"I love it and it's probably my favourite away ground," he said. "The atmosphere is great with the new stadium as well so it's a great arena to play in

"I've come close to winning there with the Dragons and Pienaar has smashed our dreams but we have always fronted up and stepped up to the plate.

"There's always a very vocal crowd and they love their rugby, so it creates a great atmosphere to play in."

The Dragons head to Ireland looking to avenge a 19-12 defeat at Rodney Parade when the sides met in November, a game they felt they bossed.

If they are to turn the tables then they will no doubt need to soak up plenty of pressure and show the sort of defensive resilience that earned the spoils against Leinster in Newport last weekend.

"We worked on things from (the 38-5 defeat at) Sale that came together against Leinster quite nicely," said Hughes, whose return on loan from Exeter has been turned into a permanent deal.

"We had to work hard and it paid off but Ulster are going to have just as many threats with some great runners in their back line, so we are going to have to improve again and go up another step.

"We dealt with them quite well at home and put ourselves in a good position to win but we didn't. We had six or seven minutes in their 22 while they had around 50 seconds but we managed to lose."

The Dragons' hopes of taking their opportunities this time around are helped by Hughes and his fellow midfield Adam, Warren, now being a settled partnership.

In the absence of the injured Jack Dixon, Tyler Morgan and Pat Leach, the management have had little option but to pair them together. Since Hughes returned in September they have formed a useful, unsung combination in every game bar the New Year's Day loss at the Ospreys, when the outside centre was a late withdrawal through illness.

"It's been great and you can really see that we are starting to understand each other's games," said Hughes. "We are working together really well and have moved on a step from that home game against Ulster.

"We are quite settled as a back line and Ashton Hewitt has been on fire on the wing – when you have people like him on the end of moves you are almost guaranteed points."

The 10th-placed Dragons can close the seven-point gap to Cardiff Blues in the fixture, which was postponed in January so that Ulster could fit in their Champions Cup clash with Oyonnax. The Irish province will overtake the Scarlets as Pro12 leaders with victory.