SAM Beard is confident that Newport Gwent Dragons can head for the beach buoyed by a strong end to the season, starting against Guinness PRO12 title hopefuls Ulster this evening, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons have endured a torrid time since beating Enisei-STM on January 13 with seven straight defeats in all competitions.

Their last two outings have been especially distressing with Leinster romping to a 54-22 success at Rodney Parade and Glasgow winning 47-17 at Scotstoun Stadium.

The Dragons have shipped 15 tries and know that they must respond this evening against an Irish province in red-hot form and hunting a spot in the play-offs.

"We have been starting well but then capitulating, letting teams get away from us," said Beard, who partners Wales international Tyler Morgan in midfield.

"We know that it's not been good enough and that we are the only ones that can do something about it, so need to make sure we do this week."

The Dragons are 10th in the table but just two points back on Edinburgh, who head to Llanelli this evening.

With the Ulster game followed by derbies against the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues plus trips to Zebre and the Scottish capital, Beard is hopeful of a strong run-in.

"The end of the season is coming," said the 26-year-old. "We weren't happy with the way that we played so have to put that right. Summer is a lot easier if you do, rather than dwelling on it for five or six weeks.

"Results haven't gone our way this season but we just have to keep moving forward and hopefully next year we can start things off better and continue it."

Beard will be to the fore against an Ulster side bolstered by Ireland stars Iain Henderson and Jared Payne and featuring overseas aces Ruan Pienaar and Charles Piutau along with homegrown game-breakers Darren Cave and Craig Gilroy.

"Ulster are a very good attacking side but we have been doing our homework," said Beard. "They have a few good players but we just have to worry about ourselves, stick together as a unit and the rest should take care of itself.

"There's no point worry about one player here or there, we just have to stick together and get our systems right."

Lewis Evans will make his 200th appearance for the Dragons when captaining the side from number eight.

Head coach Kingsley Jones opts for Nick Crosswell as Rynard Landman's second row partner in the absence of the ill Wales lock Cory Hill.

There are five changes to the side that was thrashed 47-17 by Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium at the start of the month with full-back Carl Meyer, wing Adam Hughes, scrum-half Charlie Davies, hooker Rhys Buckley and Crosswell coming into the XV.

Fourth-placed Ulster have won 24 from 25 possible points to overtake the Scarlets in the race for the final play-off berth.

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hughes, T Morgan, S Beard, T Prydie, A O'Brien, C Davies, S Hobbs, R Buckley, B Harris, N Crosswell, R Landman, O Griffiths, N Cudd, L Evans (captain). Replacements: D Harris, P Price, L Fairbrother, M Screech, H Keddie, S Pretorius, D Jones, A Warren.

Ulster: J Payne, C Gilroy, L Marshall, D Cave, C Piutau, S Olding, R Pienaar, A Warwick, R Herring (captain), W Herbst, K Treadwell, A O'Connor, I Henderson, C Henry, S Reidy. Replacements: J Andrew, C Black, R Ah You, R Diack, C Ross, P Marshall, P Jackson, J Stockdale.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)