LOCK Ian Gough is hoping to get the chance to slug it out with his former side as a pick-me-up after Newport Gwent Dragons' disappointing start to the Guinness Pro12.

The region had to settle for a losing bonus point on opening day after an error-strewn display resulted in a 16-11 defeat to Connacht in Galway.

They don't have time to lick their wounds with the Ospreys, who started by hammering hapless Treviso 44-13, heading east on Friday night.

It is an especially mouth-watering encounter for Gough, who left Rodney Parade for the Liberty Stadium in 2007 and returned home this summer on a one-year deal.

The 64-times capped Wales lock was a guest of the Ospreys Supporters Club last Friday night and is busting a gut to be selected so that he can give his former side a traditionally 'warm' Rodney Parade welcome this weekend.

"The great thing about rugby is that when things don't go your way, six days later you have the chance to put it right," said the 37-year-old, who put in some trademark thumping tackles off the bench in Galway.

"I am hoping the Dragons fans will be just as amazing as whenever I came down with the Ospreys, because we did not like heading down to Rodney Parade.

"It'd be great to go up against them again but I've got to get selected first and Matthew Screech and Cory Hill (who weren't involved in Galway) will want to take my head off in training all week!

"Everyone wants a starting place and that's great, there's really good competition for places throughout this pack. That's exactly what we need."

Gough was a member of the only Dragons team that has triumphed in Galway back in 2004.

Over a decade later the second row was pleased that there were no pats on backs for at least leaving the Sportground with something to show for their efforts.

"The mood afterwards was sombre, which was great," said Gough. "We may have got a losing bonus point but everyone was super disappointed.

"We just made too many mistakes, we were very edgy at the start of the game and it took us a while to get into it.

"The (attacking) driving maul wasn't where we wanted it to be – we let them come in and sack us in the air – and it was up to us to adjust as an experienced pack.

"But we are in a different place to previous years and we are a different team, everyone will be training hard to get things right for Friday.

"There are a good bunch of boys here and it's an amazing environment. I am confident things will be good this season, the hard work is being done and we just need to polish up on the performances."