NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are expecting a battle royal when they head to Paris for Sunday's return Heineken Cup clash against French champions Stade Francais.

The Dragons' shock 20-12 triumph at Rodney Parade on Saturday put them at the head of the group one table for almost 24 hours, until Ulster's remarkable 33-0 victory over former champions Leicester catapulted them into top spot.

But Stade Francais are smarting not only at their defeat but also at the loss of prop Pablo Lemoine, who was suspended for six weeks and is out of the remaining pool matches after being sent off for butting Dragons wing Ben Breeze in the 52nd minute.

The French team also had flanker Remy Martin yellow carded after a fight broke out in midfield involving him, teammate Arnaud Marchois and Dragons pair Jason Forster and Gareth Baber.

Baber was yellow carded along with Ross Beattie after an earlier incident involving kicking the ball away.

Beattie disputes that and is expecting a "heated" return encounter, revealing the French players virtually guranteed it when they realised the match was slipping away from them.

"They were fed up and when it started raining heavily and they were losing they were telling us 'We'll see you next week,'" said Beattie.

"It was a heated game, they're a physical and passionate side, and the return will be heated as well, that's the way they play over there. But that's fine by us.

"I was at the bottom of a ruck when I was yellow carded. It was a penalty offence, but there was no way I kicked the ball away."

Dragons coach Mike Ruddock admitted the return could be difficult when he said, "Everyone is expecting a huge reaction.

"The first 20 minutes will be the key, if we allow Stade Francais to come out firing it will be a long afternoon."

An Italian referee, Guilio de Santis, will be in charge of the return match, fuelling speculation that it could be explosive.

Lemoine's butt drew condemnation from Stade Francais coach Nick Mallett. "I'm very upset with Pablo, it was a complete aberration," he said.

"He's let down the team and the club, it's very disappointing, I never condone any of that. We've never had a problem with discipline, I think that's the first red card I've had since I've been with the club."

Lemoine will obviously miss the return and so will scrum half Agustin Pichot, who went off with damaged ribs on Saturday.

Dragons' forwards Ian Gough and Chris Anthony, forced off with rib and neck injuries, respectively, are struggling to make it for Sunday.

Beattie, meanwhile, calls on everyone to now give the Dragons the respect they deserve.

"I still hear people and commentators writing us off and slagging us off which is annoying," he said.

"But we've got fantastic spirit. Nobody is saying we will beat the world, but we want to win this group and if we keep winning we may well do it.

"In a way it's perfect for us, but why don't they get behind us?"