HEAD coach Kingsley Jones believes Newport Gwent Dragons can christen their trophy cabinet if they can produce the goods in the next fortnight to earn a European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final.

The Dragons have not won anything since their 2003 inception and have played knockout rugby just twice, when they beat Brive in the quarter-finals and lost to Clermont Auvergne in the 2007 Challenge Cup and when they lost to Gloucester in the semi-finals of the 2010 LV= Cup.

But they top Pool Three with a trip to Newcastle on Saturday and home encounter with Stade Francais seven days later. Five match points should be enough to secure a quarter-final spot while two wins would mean they enjoy home advantage.

The Dragons are 20/1 long shots to lift the Challenge Cup but Jones believes it's up for grabs if they make it to the knockout stages.

"I won this tournament as part of the Sale coaching team (in 2005) and it was a great achievement," said the former Wales flanker.

"For the Dragons to get a trophy would be great and the first step is the next two weeks, then anything can happen in the quarter-finals.

"I made it to the semi-final of the Heineken Cup as a player with Gloucester and the quarter-finals with Sale and the pool stages were the hardest parts.

"If we can get into a quarter, who knows what can happen and we will have every chance of getting into the final and making it a big season for everybody."

Newcastle, who finish away to Bucharest Wolves, are favourites to win the group to earn a Kingston Park quarter-final but the Dragons will have something to play for even if they endure a pointless trip to the north east.

Jones is relieved that they have something to play for after a challenging first half of the Guinness Pro12 that has left the region with only the Italian pair of Zebre and Treviso beneath them.

"We need games like these rather than dead rubbers," said Jones. "We need to set up the Stade Francais game and a great atmosphere at Rodney Parade.

"I've been to Newcastle many times as a player and a coach and it's a tough place to go but I am sure we will rise to the challenge."