NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are calling on their sevens specialists as they attempt to go one better against their Welsh rivals in the Singha Premiership 7s on Saturday.

The Rodney Parade side were runners-up to Cardiff Blues in controversial circumstances last summer, denied by a dubious last-gasp penalty try against their hosts, but still qualified for finals night at the Twickenham Stoop.

Once again they had to settle for silver rather than gold in London after being edged out by Gloucester following wins against Newcastle and Harlequins.

The Dragons are taking their return to BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park seriously and a number of players are set to feature in the sevens rather than the 15-a-side conditioning match against Nottingham in Ystrad Mynach on Friday.

The squad will be confirmed on Wednesday but last year's player of the tournament Matthew Pewtner and Wales international Rhys Jones and his brother Dorian will all play in the capital.

Ebbw Vale's Luke Crocker, who has represented Wales in the European Sevens Grand Prix series this summer, and a raft of academy talent will complete the Dragons line-up.

Director of rugby Lyn Jones and head coach Kingsley Jones have once again handed the reins to sevens specialist, and Ebbw backs coach, Nick Wakley.

He said: "We've got a similar sort of side to last year and Lyn and Kingsley have been great in releasing Dorian, Rhys and 'Pewts'.

"I couldn't have asked for a better set-up and they have been very forthcoming with players. Lyn has got a winning mentality and doesn't want to go there to make up the numbers.

"Lyn has backed us with the pros and we've got some cracking players with the likes of Luke Crocker, (Dragons academy and Wales Under-20s wing) Lloyd Lewis and (Newport scrum-half) Jonny Lewis, who has been on the sevens circuit for some time.

"There will be loads of leaders out there and we are looking pretty strong."

The Dragons and Cardiff Blues were streets ahead of their west Walian rivals in last year's tournament but Wakley believes things will be tighter this weekend.

With a chance to raise their profile in front of a bumper crowd at the Stoop – not to mention picking up some valuable prize money – the pressure is on to finish in the top two.

"We won't be thinking about finals night because I know that the other sides will be stronger this year with heaps of sevens experience," said Wakley.

"There is a lot more focus on sevens at the moment with the Olympics around the corner so I expect a quality tournament."

Playing schedule: 3.15pm Ospreys v Cardiff Blues, 3.40pm Newport Gwent Dragons v Scarlets, 4.10pm Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys, 4.35pm Cardiff Blues v Scarlets, 5.05pm Ospreys v Scarlets, 5.30pm Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues