LYN Jones has demanded Newport Gwent Dragons "hunt down and harass" the Ospreys at a raucous Rodney Parade this evening to show that the gap has closed on the Welsh pacesetters.

After an opening weekend loss to Connacht in the Guinness Pro12 the Dragons look to get their season up and running when they host the men from the Liberty Stadium.

A good Rodney Parade record against the Ospreys and a summer of change in Swansea means that many expect a home victory.

And director of rugby Jones hopes that the fervent backing from the terraces can give his side the edge in what promises to be a fierce contest.

He said: "Every player in Wales looks forward to the derbies, they are the biggest fixtures of the year and there is a lot of personal pride at stake.

"They bring the best out of players, there's an edge, more support and a better atmosphere. It's our first home game of the season and everyone is excited about playing at Rodney Parade.

"There's always a good atmosphere here and it's without doubt the best rugby venue in Wales. The Ospreys know how awkward a game it can be here and it's up to our players to hunt and harass them."

The Ospreys have traditionally struggled in Newport and head east with a much-changed side that doesn't include summer leavers Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans and Ryan Jones while talisman skipper Alun Wyn Jones is rested.

But they started with a crushing win 44-13 against Treviso a week ago and Jones believes his former side remain Wales' best... just.

"We are welcoming a new and young Ospreys side but one that still has very good standards," said Jones. "You set standards in your business and when new players come in they realise they must hit them.

"From what I witnessed last weekend the Ospreys are still the pacesetters, but maybe by not as big a margin as there once was.

"The training environment and culture has developed over the years and that's somewhere we need to get to.

"We are in that transitional period now, it's still for the younger boys to understand how to train, play and go about their business."

The Dragons have won eight of ten Celtic League encounters at Rodney Parade and Ospreys forwards coach Chris Gibbes is relishing the chance to see his burgeoning side under pressure.

"It's going to be a hell of a challenge," said the New Zealander. "But it's also a really good opportunity to see where we are at with these young guys, in what will be a real cauldron of fire.

"We are going up there with a lack of experience and there's been a lot of discussion about what to expect, but until you've lived it, you don't really know.

"We're expecting a pretty big fight."