NEWPORT Gwent Dragons boss Kingsley Jones has picked a side to scrum low on Saturday so that they avoid getting pinned by a powerful Russian front row spearheaded by a wrestler-turned-prop, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons make the long trip to Krasnodar this weekend in round two of the European Rugby Challenge Cup to face an Enisei side who also got off to a winning start.

Less than 24 hours after Jones' side had beaten Brive 37-16 at Rodney Parade, the Russians fired a warning by beating Aviva Premiership outfit Worcester 19-12 in Moscow.

The head coach is fully aware of the task that awaits his side after coaching Russia for three years between 2011 and 2014 and knows they face a grapple up front.

The head coach said: "They've got a prop called Innokentiy Zykov who I wish I had never converted from lock!

"He was a wrestler, is 197cm, 130kg and is as fit as anyone you've ever met. It takes a few years to convert to tighthead and now he's not bad unfortunately!"

He will lock horns with loosehead Phil Price while on the other side Lloyd Fairbrother has got the nod ahead of South African Brok Harris with Jones hoping the 5ft 9ins Cornishman, who qualifies for Wales thanks to his mum from Blaenavon, can cause their hosts problems.

"It's only fair I give Lloyd an opportunity and he is desperate to prove himself," said Jones. "I think his scrum technique won't suit the Enisei team, they've got some big guys and Lloyd can be very difficult against that sort of opposition.

"It's a tactical decision because he can do a good job in the scrum – it's difficult for big guys with long backs to deal with him – then we have Craig Mitchell's experience off the bench to share the leg work.

"Along with Phil Price and Rhys Buckley, we have to make sure take advantage of our lack of height because we can scrum low against them."

The Dragons start their 12-hour trip to Krasnodar this evening (THURS) and will be assisted by Jones' former Russia captain Alexandr Voytov.