DON'T be overawed and go for it from the first whistle -- that is the double message from Newport Gwent Dragons captain Andy Marinos going into tonight's crucial Celtic League clash against Leinster at Lansdowne Road.

Marinos plays his final game tonight before retiring to become Dragons chief executive, and the occasion could hardly be greater with the title at stake.

The Dragons need a victory at least, probably with a bonus point, if they are to have a chance of taking the crown which would be a magnificent, unthought of achievement after just one season and a start which threatened to implode.

The stakes couldn't be higher and neither could the occasion - an international venue with top players, Marinos and Percy Montgomery lining up against Brian O'Driscoll and Shane Horgan.

"Let's get away from the must win scenario because we've got to give Leinster the respect they deserve," said Marinos.

"They have respected us by selecting their strongest side for a long time, they are trying to deny another team the championship.

"But we go in with a lot of confidence, we have achieved bonus points against sides we didn't expect to, so all the ingredients are there for us to play well.

"But we must not be overawed by the occasion. The first 20 or 30 minutes will be vital, if we get out there and give them a sniff it could be a long evening."

Marinos will bring the curtain down on a long career on the same ground as he started his international career against at least one of the finest players in the world.

"Playing against people like O'Driscoll and Horgan is a good reason to still test how and where you are, I'll be giving it 100 per cent and I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

"I played against them for Newport in the Heineken Cup a few years ago and I really enjoyed the challenge, when you play against quality players you raise your game and it gets the best out of you.

"I think Percy and I have formed a good partnership, with Monty world class, terrorising defences and me with enough experience, so it could be quite a battle with Horgan getting forward and O'Driscoll a game breaker.

"We could not have scripted the occasion better, with pundits forecasting a meaningless end of season game.

"But with a lot of support going over and a big stadium we want it to emulate the Munster-Wasps game, to be a good spectacle and prove that the Celtic League is viable. It's the 22nd week of the competition, yet there is still so much to play for."

So how does Marinos rate the Dragons' chances of winning the title, though it is out of their hands to an extent?

"What were our chances of getting a bonus point against Cardiff Blues, of beating Edinburgh, Munster and Connacht away?" he replied.

"We are very much in with a chance, the squad is full of confidence and we are determined to finish the season on a high note.

"If we get the result we want it will prove we can match the might of Leinster, that we are up to that standard and make a show on the European scene."

But the skipper warns just before his last stand, "We have got to turn up, we have got to be on the money and we must be clinical and ruthless."

l The Cardiff Blues beat Edinburgh 55-22 last night to keep alive their hopes of Heineken Cup rugby next season.

But despite their efforts, Neath-Swansea Ospreys need only a draw at Glasgow tonight to clinch the last Welsh place.