NEWPORT GWENT Dragons coach Chris Anderson (pictured) has defended his team selection ahead of tomorrow's crucial Heineken Cup tie against Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

The Dragons slipped up in their first group match against Newcastle last week when their tactics came under fire as well as Anderson's choice of forwards.

But the Aussie responded by going for the same team which went down to defeat at the hands of Newcastle.

That surprised many who would pick an almost completely different pack from Anderson.

"The reason I've picked them again is I think they're the best forwards," he said. "You can't pick sides for sides' sake, players need to earn the right to be in the team.

"I was disappointed with a lot last week, we should have won. We were a bit naive in a few areas and the occasion got to us a bit.

"But you can't abandon ship because you lose one game. You spend 40 per cent of the time getting beat, you can't throw the baby out of the pram when you do.

"I'm never comfortable when we get beat, but it's not pressure when you lose, you've got to handle it, you've got to deal with it.

"It was the first game I've had under those conditions. We were a bit naive in a few areas but we'll learn from it and be a bit smarter. If you dwell on it you only compound the problems."

Anderson believes the Dragons will come out stronger and sees no reason why they can't get back on track.

"We've had a lighter week, it's been keen and we've talked about it. It should make us stronger," he said.

"Obviously we need to win against Edinburgh for our own peace of mind as much as anything else and we need to get back to playing as we can.

"If we play well we should win, it's in our hands."

Anderson is giving scrum half Gareth Cooper every chance to recover from his knee injury.

"He should be fit, it's only bruising and there's no structural damage," he said.

Percy Montgomery returned from a training camp in South Africa yesterday morning, but Anderson isn't concerned at his absence.

"He's a good pro and he always turns up in good nick," he said.

Montgomery will train with the Dragons in Edinburgh today, but there could be a big surprise about where he plays.

Anderson is also keeping his replacements a secret after naming nine.