Kingsholm victim Hibbard hoping to be in the thick of a Dragons upset on English soil

The Rodney Parade region head to Sixways (kick-off 3pm) knowing that victory would put them on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages.

They started the campaign with bonus-point wins against 2018 French champions Castres in Newport and Enisei-STM in Krasnodar.

Given that they have a home encounter with the Russians in round six, a win in the double-header against the Warriors would give them a great shot at making the last eight either as Pool One winners or one of the best runners-up.

Worcester have started the season strongly to sit fourth in the Gallagher Premiership and are fresh from a home win on their plastic pitch against Sale.

The Dragons, meanwhile, are fresh from a 39-12 hammering at the hands of Zebre, who won for the first time in 2019.

However, Hibbard knows all about the region relishing their underdog status after being a member of the Gloucester XV beaten at a stunned Kingsholm in the 2016 quarter-finals.

"Worcester will be a typical English Premiership side and they will be even more physical than Zebre," said the former Wales and Lions hooker.

"It's going to be a tough game and we have to learn from where we got things wrong last weekend in the one on ones. We are not the biggest team in the world and should have been doubling up on people.

"We beat a good Castres team and had a lot of things up against us in Russia but the boys handled it well, so we are on the front foot on maximum points.

"Worcester is a tough ask but as a group helped with a few Wales boys coming in we will go there and really challenge them.

"I've been there on the other side of it! I lost to the Dragons with Gloucester when the boys came to Kingsholm and fronted up.

"That's what it is going to take – we have to try and impose ourselves on Worcester and throw everything we've got at them."

Hibbard has enjoyed a heavy workload in the absence of Wales international Elliot Dee but the World Cup star is set to return to regional colours this weekend.

"It's good to have Elliot back, that competition is great. You see that with the way that our back row is playing because we've got incredible strength in depth there, I'd say the best out of all the regions.

"It's about challenging each other and getting comfortable with that challenge. When I look back at my time with the Ospreys that was the biggest driver for us because we were so strong in each position.

"You were thinking about the competition with your mates, not the opposition. That helps the team because if you have a bad day then the next person is waiting to go."

Hibbard has started every Guinness PRO14 game and played in 496 of 560 possible minutes with the 35-year-old, whose birthday is next week, saying he has been reinvigorated by new boss Dean Ryan.

"Dean likes to play me a few minutes! I love getting battered, I'm quite sadistic like that!" said the 41-times capped international.

"I am enjoying it and Dean is right up my street. Every so often you come across a coach who gets you really excited again and he is definitely one of them, especially with this group.

"We are underestimated and some of these boys can really go far, so I want to be a part of the beginning of all this."

The Dragons are on top of Pool One with a maximum 10 points while Worcester, who are welcomed to Rodney Parade a week on Friday, are on five and Castres, who head to Russia on Friday, are on four.