DON'T expect it to be easy against Edinburgh in Saturday's crucial Heineken Cup-tie at Rodney Parade, Ceri Sweeney warns his Newport Gwent Dragons teammates.

Edinburgh were badly beaten 19-10 by Borders in a Scottish Celtic League derby at Netherdale on Friday night, leaving them just two places off the bottom while they are also propping up Group Five in the Heineken Cup.

"Edinburgh are a good side, they don't get the credit they deserve," said Sweeney, who kicked 26 points in the two holiday matches against Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets.

"They could have beaten us in the Heineken Cup up there, they came back and nearly scored a try at the end, and they did beat us in the last minute in the league.

"But we're ready for them, we've just got to concentrate on our game and get that right. We also need Perpignan to beat Newcastle. No-one wins in Perpignan, they win everything there, unless they've got a big French league game on.

"After that it's Newcastle up there, we've been waiting for that one since we lost the first game in the competition against them (the Dragons suffered a surprise 10-6 setback at Rodney Parade on October 23)."

Sweeney is confident about the final pool game against Jonny Wilkinson's Newcastle at Kingston Park a week Sunday which is another must-win game for the Dragons.

"We can definitely win there, the weather was a big leveller at home, but we let ourselves down. It was the one that got away, we just didn't take our chances," he said.

Sweeney will come up against big rival Wilkinson after Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew says the England star will start the Heineken Cup games against Perpignan and the Dragons.

Wilkinson is getting back into the groove following the neck and bicep injuries which have drastically curtailed his career since his dramatic late dropped goal secured the World Cup for England.

"Jonny's a great player," admitted Sweeney who revealed he has been taking lessons from another all-time kicking great, Neil Jenkins.

The former Wales and British Lions ace, who holds the world points scoring record, has been helping the Dragons player, though he is now the kicking coach for rivals Cardiff Blues.

"I've been working closely with Neil, I give him a ring maybe once a week and he comes and meets me," said Sweeney.

"I feel I've been kicking well for the past two years and now I've been having more practice with the Dragons.

"But I'm enjoying it and it's also got a lot to do with Scott Johnson with the Welsh team."