THAT the standout player of Newport Gwent Dragons' season has been a man that specialises in the daring defensive deed tells the story of their campaign.

The Rodney Parade region have made a rotten start to the Guinness Pro12 and were condemned to a fourth defeat from five by the Scarlets on Sunday.

Thankfully the West Walians were also pretty hapless, blowing a number of opportunities to ensure the score was 'only' 26-13.

Once again the source of the Dragons' woes was their spluttering attack; they have gifted their opponents a steady stream of possession in dangerous areas, forcing openside Nic Cudd to battle bravely to try and stem the tide.

The region has played most of the campaign on the back foot and can ill afford to put in yet another error-strewn performance at Murrayfield on Saturday.

They take on fellow strugglers Edinburgh in the final Pro12 round before a daunting European opener against Stade Francais in Paris and scrum-half Richie Rees wants a patient approach.

"As soon as we go through the phases, which we did in the last 20 minutes against the Scarlets, we look dangerous," said the 31-year-old, who scored a consolation try from a driving lineout.

"But we are killing ourselves at the moment; we are turning the ball over with ease and giving it straight back to the opposition.

"We've just got to keep plugging away, if we hold on to the ball and get a bit of continuity in our play then we can build from there.

"Our scrum and lineout has improved from last season but as a back line we are probably not where we should be.

"We have had an extreme injury list but we've just got to stick together, keep going and try and come away with something at Edinburgh. We can't take a backwards step."

Edinburgh are also a team in dire need of a morale-booster after failing to win since their stunning opening weekend win against Munster at Thomond Park.

They sit beneath the eighth-placed Dragons and ninth-placed Cardiff Blues after being hammered 30-0 by Ulster in Belfast last Friday.