THIS is our cup final, says Newport Gwent Dragons captain Jason Forster as he leads his team into battle in tomorrow's grudge match at Newcastle for a place in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

The Dragons carry Welsh hopes with them, for they are the country's last hope of being represented in the knock-out stages of Europe's premier rugby competition.

And the match takes place against a feud which has descended into a war of words this week between the rival camps.

The Dragons accused Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew of arrogance, Andrew demanded an apology, Dragons coach Chris Anderson refused to oblige and Andrew ended up claiming his club have been insulted.

On top of all that both teams have been hard hit by injuries, Newcastle missing Jonny Wilkinson, Dave Walder, Matt Burke and Jamie Noon and the Dragons without Gareth Cooper, Nathan Brew and Luke Charteris. Others like Dragons centre Hal Luscombe and Newcastle full back Joe Shaw are having to play though they are not fully fit.

There's enough drama surrounding this game to write a novel.

But Forster (pictured) insists the Dragons will stay focused as they go in search of the bonus point victory they must achieve to have a chance of going through, assuming Perpignan gain a maximum against Edinburgh, though even that may not be enough.

"This is our cup final, it's a big chance for us, we have't been this close before," said Forster. "It's going to be a fantastic occasion, the match is live on Sky TV and we've got to step up to the mark.

"Llanelli have been the leading lights for a number of years in the Heineken Cup among Welsh teams. It's nice for someone else to have a stint, it needs a little time but the more we play in this competition the better equipped we will be for it.

"We'll go out there and do our damnedest.

"We want to show we can play some great rugby, but we've got to take our chances and be aggressive to give the backs the platform they need."

Forster is the sole survivor in the Dragons starting XV from the Newport side who won 34-21 at Newcastle in the competition over three years ago, though Jamie Richards, Chris Anthony and Rod Snow are all on the bench.

But Forster rates tomorrow a bigger occasion because the Dragons are just one win away from the quarter-finals.

"This is what you play for. We can't hide or go into a shell now, we've got to play percentage rugby and turn that into points," he said.

Forster says the opening quarter will be vital - just as it was in Perpignan when the Dragons got blown away.

He promises it will be different this time.

"One mistake from us and Newcastle won the game at Rodney Parade," he said ruefully.

"The first 20 minutes will be crucial, as soon as the whistle goes we've got to pile into them, it would be nice to go like a bullet but we've got to be controlled, keep a cool head and be sensible."

A committed Forster concluded, "There is no need for any motivation, if we don't walk the walk it'll be no good.

"There are three teams in our group fighting for a last eight spot so this is one of the biggest games in our history, if we're not up for this one we never will be."