Preview: Dragons v Glasgow

Glasgow are looking to continue last season's strong form away home when they visit the Dragons in the Magners League on Sunday.

Glasgow are looking to continue last season's strong form away home when they visit the Dragons in the Magners League on Sunday.

Head coach Sean Lineen is hoping that his side can replicate the same kind of form on the road this season following their away record of four wins, three losses and two draws on the road to the inaugural play-offs last season.

Coming off the back of a rousing 22-19 victory over Leinster last weekend, Lineen has every confidence that the Warriors can continue their impressive form when they visit Rodney Parade.

“We had a good away record last season but …All six home teams won at the weekend so it's going to form in terms of home advantage but it's going to crack at some point and it would be great for us to do it against Newport on Sunday,” he said.

“Newport are going to be tough but it's a good one to get after the high against Leinster.”

The Warriors have made two changes to the starting XV that defeated Leinster last weekend, both of which are in the forwards.

Ed Kalman starts at tighthead prop in place of Moray Low who is named among the replacements whilst Canadian international Chauncey O'Toole, who joined the Warriors on a short-term contract this week, is named at blindside flanker in place of Ryan Wilson who drops out of the match-day 23.

The most notable inclusion on the bench is that of utility back Colin Gregor who is poised to make his return to front line action following knee surgery at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, Wales international second-row Luke Charteris will lead the Dragons for the second time this season in their first home game of the Magners League season.

Hooker Tom Willis has not passed a fitness test following a rib injury picked up in the pre-season friendly against Cardiff Blues. Jason Tovey does however return at number ten while Canadian international Matt Evans starts at full-back.

Form: Dragons have won their last three matches at Rodney Parade against Glasgow, although two of those were in the European Cup. Dragons have slipped to three successive defeats in the Magners League, however they have not lost at home to a non-Welsh team in the competition since Munster visited Rodney Parade on 7 March 2009. Glasgow have won their last five regular season matches in the Magners League, but the Warriors' only away victory since January was at Scarlets on 7 May.

The teams:

Dragons: 15 Matthew Evans, 14 Will Harries, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Pat Leach, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Gavin Thomas, 7 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 6 Danny Lydiate, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Nigel Hall, 2 Steve Jones, 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Pat Palmer, 18 Ali McKenzie, 19 Rob Sidoli, 20 Lewis Evans, 21 Matthew Pewtner, 22 Nicky Griffiths, 23 Matthew Jones.

Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni (c), 14 DTH van der Merwe, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Federico Aramburu, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 Calum Forrester, 6 Chauncey O'Toole, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Fergus Thomson, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Moray Low, 18 Ryan Grant, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Rob Harley/Chris Fusaro, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Hefin O'Hare.

Date: Sunday, September 12
Venue: Rodney Parade
Kick-off: 16:10 BST (15:10 GMT)
Referee: Referee: Carlo Damasco (FIR)