THE Dragons have got to come out with all guns blazing when they face French champions Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup at Rodney Parade on Saturday, says coach Mike Ruddock.

The Paris-based side are favourites to win the pool even against such stiff opposition as Leicester and Ulster, but the Dragons will pitch into them in an effort to spring another surprise after beating Ulster.

The Dragons' unbeaten home record, remarkably stretching into January, will nonetheless come under heavy pressure from the star-studded French team.

"I know all about them and I've got a tape of their game against Ulster," said Ruddock.

"I'm aware that they are a big, strong side and their half backs, Dominguez and Pichot, are the key, and then there's Dominici out wide as well as a good back row and a big pack.

"So they're a magnificent side, coached by Nick Mallett, and they're French champions. They don't come much harder than this.

"But we don't like losing or conceding tries and it won't be any different against Stade Francais. I'm sure we'll come out with all guns blazing and I'm glad we've got them at home first.

"We have surprised a few teams already like Ulster."

Ruddock has some tricky team selections to make, especially in the centre and lock, but he intends to rotate during a hard second-half of the season.

"We can't keep the same team every week, we need to rotate because the level of rugby will be huge in the next five or six weeks," he said.

"If we don't, the wheels could fall off. I'd like us to be in the l continued from back Celtic League shakedown at the end of the season and a bit of give and take will be needed."

Ruddock added: "I've got problems picking players in each area. Rhys Oakley was in the Welsh team not long ago and Jamie Ringer wasn't rated by anyone not long ago but is now one of the first names on the team-sheet.

"Michael Owen had to be patient and earn his first start. No-one has got a divine right to be in the team, players have got to earn the jersey."

The Stade Francais side contains some glittering names.

In addition to Mallett, Diego Dominguez, Agustin Pichot and Christophe Dominici, the Parisians have a wealth of talent at their disposal.

Their squad also contains the Italian Bergamasco brothers, Mauro and Mirco, plus French three-quarter Brian Liebenberg, who emigrated to the country from South Africa.

Also there are other French caps which include Stephane Glas, , Thomas Lombard and Franck Comba.

Italian legend outside-half Dominguez is the third highest points scorer of all time.

Up front, they have World Cup prop Sylvain Marconnet, fellow prop Pieter De Villiers, flankers Patrick Tabacco and Remy Martin and lock David Aradou. Aradou and fellow lock Arnaud Marchois are six feet seven giants.