PROP Phil Price says Newport Gwent Dragons cannot let their set piece standards slip this evening after having the edge on the Ospreys, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons welcome Treviso to Rodney Parade in the Guinness PRO12 (kick-off 7.15pm) on the back of a 10-0 derby defeat.

The west Walians’ success brought to an end a five-game winning streak in Newport by Kingsley Jones’ side but there was reason for optimism courtesy of their tight game.

They had the nudge at the scrum and were secure on their own lineout ball while picking off plenty of Ospreys ball.

However, loosehead Price has stressed that they aren’t resting on their laurels given that they now come up against a formidable Treviso pack.

“We targeted the tight game against the Ospreys and felt we could get an edge, which I think we did,” said Price.

“It’s going to be tough against Treviso because they are a set-piece orientated team and we will really have to be on top of our game this evening.

“Italians sides are strong up front and we know what to expect from them. They will be tight up front and we have to match them.”

Proof of forwards coach Ceri Jones being pleased with his pack’s performance in the derby came when the Dragons named an unchanged eight.

That means Price keeps the 1 jersey ahead of Sam Hobbs, who has made a mightily impressive start to life at Rodney Parade.

The summer recruit from Cardiff Blues got first crack on the left side of the scrum along with fellow new boy Thomas Davies when Price missed the start of the season.

After playing with a shoulder niggle for much of 2015/16, scans revealed a small tear and he went under the knife before returning against Brive in October.

Price said: “I’m glad I had the operation because it’s sorted now and I had to come back in, knuckle down and work hard to get the jersey back.

“There’s good competition with ‘TD’ and Sam then Luke Garrett has come back from his loan at the Scarlets and there’s Keagan Bale.

“There’s a lot of us gunning for that jersey and it will be good for some of the boys to get back in the British & Irish Cup next week and keep playing at a high level.

“Sometimes I struggle with being in the squad one week and out the next but I have to adapt to that because it’s the way that Kingsley and the other coaches want to do it this year.”

Price has made great strides since heading to Rodney Parade from Bridgend in 2009 and the former Ospreys academy prop made his 150th appearance for the Dragons in the win against Worcester.

He will pass Hugh Gustafson on the all-time list when he moves onto 152 this evening with Adam Black (163) the only prop ahead of him.

“It was nice to hit that marker in my career, to get that many appearances for one club is pretty good. I’m level with ‘Gus’ now and after Treviso I’m chasing ‘Blacky’ down,” he said.

“I’m 28 and everybody says that becomes the prime for a prop, so I’m looking forward to what is to come. I’m happy here with another season here, so I’m really looking forward to cracking on.”

Dragons appearances: Lewis Evans (193), Steve Jones (180), Adam Black (163), Jason Tovey (163), Ashley Smith (161), Wayne Evans (157), Hugh Gustafson (151), Phil Price (151), Luke Charteris (142), Jamie Ringer (140)