NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have made a shocking start to the Guinness Pro12 but lock Rynard Landman is confident that it will all come good as long as they stay tight and don't start playing the blame game.

The eighth-placed Dragons have won just one of their five fixtures – against winless Treviso – and are yet to produce a polished performance.

The pre-season optimism has vanished after a quintet of error-strewn displays but Landman is certain that the region will enjoy a good campaign once the sizeable new brigade settles.

The South African, who has made an encouraging start to life at Rodney Parade following his move from the Cheetahs, says the key is staying positive rather than allowing shoulders to slump.

"It was never going to be easy bringing so many new players into a team, you need time," said the 28-year-old, who has played every minute of the season and acted as captain Lee Byrne's deputy.

"A good start would have been really positive but it's still early days – we play until May.

"We have to stick together, that's the most important thing. The Dragons have been in a habit of losing and we can either stay positive or go off in our own directions, and I know that if you start pointing fingers then it's going to become a long, long season.

"The thing with experienced characters, the likes of Boris Stankovich and Ian Gough, is that they really keep the boys together.

"Word hard, keep the faith, learn from our mistakes but look at the positives and move forward."

The Dragons have already played one must-win game, their successful home encounter with Treviso, and Saturday's trip to Murrayfield could be put in the same bracket.

Edinburgh have also made a poor start to the campaign and the heat is on their coach Alan Solomons, who isn't helped by Glasgow being title contenders.

"We have to concentrate on what we have to do rather than thinking about Edinburgh," said Landman.

"We worked hard to get the ball but gave it back to the Scarlets too easily, we've just got to keep possession and build phases to create more chances. But we are doing well in the set piece and that's a step in the right direction."

The Dragons will be boosted by the return of Wales lock/back row Andrew Coombs for Edinburgh following his three-week ban for stamping.