'WE have to be professional', insists Newport Gwent Dragons vice-captain Gareth Baber when they face a home banker against Celtic League basement team Borders at Rodney Parade tonight.

It's a match everyone expects the Dragons to win with 23 points separating the teams and the Dragons yet to be beaten by their Scottish opponents - but scrum half Baber warns his team-mates not to take their eye off the ball.

The reason for that, apart from the obvious one of wanting to win, is Heineken Cup qualification and a home draw in the Celtic Cup knock-out competition will move a giant step closer if they get the result.

"It shouldn't be difficult, it's another pressure situation we have to deal with as professionals," he said.

"We can't approach it any differently. Sometimes you're the favourite, sometimes you're the underdog, you've got to deal with it.

"The season was in danger of going flat, so we've had a week of hard training, especially in the period of internationals when the focus has been on that, so we don't lose ourselves.

"What we're doing here will benefit the international players when they come back. We have to maintain the focus.

"It's difficult without the internationals, but we have got a quality squad and we've got to be positive.

"The first priority is the Heineken Cup and the seeding for next year, then the home draw in the Celtic Cup. It means a lot to the club, to the revenue and to the players who have been here while the internationals have been on."

The Dragons will put some daylight between themselves in fourth position and big Welsh rivals Llanelli Scarlets, assuming they win.

It will be the Dragons' game in hand over their big Welsh rivals, who are a place lower in the table on the same number of points.

Coach Chris Anderson hopes the Dragons will call on the same grit that enabled them to beat Ulster in their last game, which came a day after the announcement he would not be retained for next season.

"It was pretty poor how that was done, but with all that had happened we did well to win," he said.

"We're capable of winning these games, it's a matter of being more prepared. We've got players out again, but the big advantage is we're at home and we've got to make sure we win."