GERAINT Rhys Jones won't get the chance to prove a point to his former housemates at Sale but the full-back says Newport Gwent Dragons are determined to show they are no mugs when they take on Gloucester in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

The Dragons produced a shocking performance in their Pool Two decider in Salford when thumped 38-5 by the Sharks in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

It was a display that contrasted with their excellent previous efforts against Sale, Castres and Pau that had earned a place in the last eight.

In the aftermath of the game at the AJ Bell Stadium there was the desire to return in the quarter-finals to prove that they aren't as poor as they had shown in the previous few hours.

Montpellier's destruction of Harlequins means that their destination is now Gloucester rather than the North West of England but the motivation remains the same; the Dragons know they must show a wider audience that they aren't as poor as the Salford shambles.

Jones had hoped for another reunion with prop Eifion Lewis Roberts and hooker Neil Briggs, his old housemates when he was coming through the ranks at Sale, but is now eyeing a strong display at Kingsholm in April.

"It was a tough night and to be fair Sale played some brilliant rugby and everything went their way," said the full-back.

"We are very disappointed to have put a performance like that in and to lose the way that we did but all we can do is work hard and come the quarter-final look to put that right.

"All the boys would have loved to go back to Sale and prove that we are better than that but there is a lot of enthusiasm and determination to put in a big performance against Gloucester.

"The boys were so exceptional against Castres so to go up to Sale and lose like we did was really disappointing. We've just go to work hard in training now and try and perform like we did the previous week."

Next up for the Dragons is a Guinness Pro12 encounter with Leinster, who were on the receiving end of a European drubbing themselves after being hammered 51-10 by Wasps in the Champions Cup.

Jones will hope to keep his spot at 15 after being a late replacement in Salford for Carl Meyer, who missed his first game of the season with a tight hamstring.

The 28-year-old Wales sevens international, who struggled with a hip injury at the start of the season, made his first start of the campaign and first appearance since coming off the bench at the Scarlets in October.

"I had to be focused all day with Carl being 50/50 and it was only during the warm-up that I got the nod, which was great but obviously it didn't turn out to be the result I wanted returning to my old team," he said.

"Carl has done really well this season so I have just had to keep working hard on my game and wait for my chance. It came at Sale, although not in the way I wanted, I hopefully I can improve and take that jersey off Carl."