NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have been told they need to stay in Nigel Owens' good books if they are to cause a big upset against Ulster in Belfast this evening.

The Dragons head to the Kingspan Stadium in the Guinness Pro12 (kick-off 7.35pm) looking to end a seven-year drought in Northern Ireland.

Ulster will go to the top of the table with victory but the Rodney Parade side have headed over the Irish Sea in fine fettle thanks to a tenacious victory against title hopefuls Leinster last weekend.

The Dragons had to show plenty of defensive steel against the men from Dublin but head coach Kingsley Jones says they cannot afford to be pinned back in their own territory against the Ulstermen.

Key to achieving that, he says, is listening to the warnings of World Cup final referee Nigel Owens, who last officiated a Dragons game in September 2014.

"The big challenge against Ulster is their starter plays, they are so accurate and we need to defend the gain line really well," said Jones.

"We have got to be disciplined, we've got the best referee in the world in charge and if we keep our discipline then we have every chance to stop them.

"Poor discipline, particularly in our half, allows them to get their lineout drive going and then you are under pressure. We can't allow them to have a foothold while if you look at the points we've conceded this season whilst on a yellow card and it's horrendous."

The Dragons have won just once in Belfast when a try by centre Ashley Smith and 11 points from the boot of fly-half James Arlidge secured a 16-14 success in September 2008.

They will have to conquer the notoriously partisan Belfast crowd if they are to cause an upset but Jones hopes their recent exploits on their travels to France in the Challenge Cup gives them belief.

"It's a tough place to go but it's about time we talk about going to places like Ulster and getting the win. It's very important that we have that mentality," he said.

"Hopefully our players can rise to it – we've done it away in some hostile places in France and the players have to enjoy it."

Fly-half Angus O'Brien will make his first start in almost a year for the Dragons after Jason Tovey was ruled out with a back problem while director of rugby Lyn Jones also brings in prop Phil Price, hooker Elliot Dee, number eight Ed Jackson and scrum-half Charlie Davies while Ben White makes his debut at blindside after signing on loan from Exeter.