I AM ready for the challenge, says 21-year-old Newport Gwent Dragons prop Rhys Thomas, who is thrown into the deep end tonight for their final Heineken Cup pool match against Ulster at Ravenhill.

Thomas has got plenty of potential and has already earned himself a growing reputation after his performances for Wales Under-21s in particular.

But there is a question mark over the big young man's scrummaging which should be sorted one way or another tonight because he comes up against former Springbok Robbie Kempson, one of the most experienced loose head props in the game.

But Thomas is a confident individual, and is more than ready for the task at hand in his first start for the Dragons after five appearances as a replacement.

"In my mind I think I'm ready for it, I've been waiting for an opportunity and this is my chance," he said.

"It's a big test for me, but I'm looking forward to playing against Ulster and against Robbie Kempson.

"This will be my first start for the Dragons, I've got a lot to prove and I'll just go out and give it my best shot."

Despite his name Thomas speaks with a strong South African accent after his upbringing there, born and bred in Johannesburg with a Welsh father from Newport, his mother coming from Zimbabwe.

His parents still live in South Africa, but he decided to come over to the land of his father after meeting up with Newport on their youth team tour there three years ago.

"The accent does come as a bit of a shock to people," he admitted. "But Newport gave me the opportunity and everything went from there," said Thomas. "I played for Wales in the FIRA competition and I haven't looked back."

Thomas is on a development contract with the Dragons and has been dividing his time between then and the Newport team in the Welsh Premier Division.

He has not been entirely happy with the arrangement because he hasn't been really settled with either side.

"This has been my first year with club and region, and it hasn't really been adequate and they know that. If I haven't been with the Dragons I haven't been starting with Newport either," he said.

But Thomas gets the chance he's been waiting for tonight. The outcome is eagerly awaited.