NEWPORT Gwent Dragons embark on a demanding five-match series when they face English and European giants Leicester at Rodney Parade tonight.

Next week they visit Franklin's Gardens for another Powergen Cup-tie against Northampton, then it's back to the Celtic League and a trip to high flying Edinburgh before a Heineken Cup double against Castres in France and the successful Sale team at home.

But now that Welsh teams have got these high quality fixtures on the bounce, they shouldn't complain says Dragons and Wales full back Kevin Morgan.

"In some ways it's better for us because the focus will be on the next really big match," said Morgan.

"We've got a really good fixture list now. A few years ago we were crying out for them, now that we've got them we've got to go out and relish it.

"Leicester are one of the better sides in Europe and they've won the Heineken Cup a couple of times. The basis of their back division comes from local lads who have come through and done well, there is a constant conveyor belt of good players there, especially in the pack, and it's a good challenge for us.

"We shouldn't have lost last week against Ulster especially when we were 16-0 ahead. I thought we'd done enough, but they got a try and the momentum and we struggled to get back.

"We've got to be better in what we do. The defence has been good, but one or two mistakes cost us, and we've got to make sure against Leicester we don't give them the opportunities. They dominate up front and then the backs come to the fore.

"The return of Michael (Owen) and Ceri (Sweeney) will give us more depth. The boys who have come in have done well, but it's nice to have senior players back."

Morgan feels he's getting back into it after his record breaking season when he scored 17 tries for the Dragons and Wales, culminating in the glory of the matchwinning, Grand Slam winning effort against Ireland in the Millennium Stadium.

"It's been a bit of a slow start for me with no pre-season matches," he said, referring to the required rest period ruling him out after his tour with Wales to North America.

"It's taken a few games for me to get going, but I'm fine now," he said.

Team-mate Ian Gough, the Wales lock, is sure the Dragons' line-out problems which littered the Ulster game last week have been cleared up.

"We've been working on it. We had a few teething problems and the pressure was there. But it gets amplified, it's not much, it's not massive, just one of those things. We lost a few, but we'll come back twice as good," he said.

"Leicester won't worry us. We'll respect them but we're a decent pack as well, we'll just worry about ourselves.

"It would be nice to get one up on England by beating Leicester. The treatment we get in Wales is good, but we're up against the guys with all the money and facilities so if we do get one up on them it would be a good feeling."