DANGERMEN - that's the warning from Newport Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner about Connacht, tonight's opponents in the Celtic League at Rodney Parade.

The Irish team are bottom of the table, nine points behind ninth-placed Dragons and having played a game more.

But they arrive fresh from a 22-12 victory over Ulster, who won at Rodney Parade, they have beaten Worcester and and won in Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup, they were 'robbed' of victory in the last minute against Ospreys and they pushed Llanelli Scarlets close.

The Dragons have to win to avoid dropping a place because the Ospreys will receive four points from a blank weekend and will go back above them if the Dragons lose.

But Turner warned, "Connacht are a dangerous side and I've made the players well aware of it. If we don't take our training structure into the game we're in big trouble.

"They may not have the big names, but we know they've got some very good players with strong half backs in Tierney and Warwick or Slemen.

"Connacht lose players every season with Gavin Duffy going to the Harlequins, Jonny O'Connor to the Wasps and Peter Bracken to Wasps. Eoin Reddin is playing for the Wasps now and Colm Rigney played for Leeds.

"Their set piece game against Ulster was good and they could have won at Worcester. They are well capable of coming to Wales and winning, it's all a credit to them and their structure.

"They're a bit like us with good team spirit and it's going to be a major challenge, we'll have to be on top of our game."

Turner refuses to be influenced by league positions, claiming it's too early and one win could make all the difference.

In fact, if the Dragons win and a Cardiff Blues team without eight internationals lose at Borders on Sunday the gap between the Welsh rivals will be only two points.

"Everyone's talking about the last Welsh side, but it's too early," said Turner.

"One win could take you level with other sides so it's not all gloom and doom, we've just got to keep our momentum going."