RELAX - that is what Newport Gwent Dragons captain Jason Forster will tell his teammates as they go into the crucial final three Celtic League games of the season, starting with Glasgow at Rodney Parade on Friday night.
Heineken Cup qualification is at stake, with the Dragons needing to beat Glasgow to virtually clinch a place in the play-off against the third-placed Italian team for the final position in Europe's premier competition.
The Dragons have got themselves into a tight spot after losing three successive league games in a week against Connacht, Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets, their three Welsh rivals now well ahead in the fight for automatic Heineken Cup qualification.
"It's been disappointing and a hard pill to swallow," admitted Forster. "It's huge now with these three games left, the season hangs on it really if we are to get where we want.
"We're playing the three Scottish teams and they've all got something to fight for, and when we do that we can get the results we need.
"It takes everyone to play to their optimum levels, we can't afford to let one or two slip below the standards we've set.
"We've certainly got the ability, we've proved it though only sparingly. We can be the best, it's just the consistency that's missing as I've said before.
"We've had more downs than ups which is a bit unfortunate, we haven't stepped up to the mark and killed games off when we should have.
"But that's life. We've got ourselves into this and we've got to get ourselves out of it." The Dragons have beaten Glasgow once this season when they won at Hughenden in their first game of the season, their only success in their last 22 away matches.
The Scottish region have also had a dismal run, losing their last four games and they have won only once in their last 13 visits to Wales, against Llanelli Scarlets in April 2005.
And the Dragons have lost just once to any Scottish team at Rodney Parade in the three years they have been going,17-16 against Edinburgh in November 2004. "Let's make sure that continues," said Forster.
Dragons outside half Craig Warlow is fit after a scan on his injured shoulder revealed no major damage. Centre Hal Luscombe and hooker Steve Jones both return from injury, as expected.
The pack is also as expected, front five forwards - Adam Black, Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough and Luke Charteris - all returning, along with skipper Jason Forster.
Eight backs have been named, wing Gareth Chapman included, his appearance as a replacement late on against Llanelli Scarlets his first for three months.
In reverting almost to type, coach Paul Turner has made 11 changes in personnel from the side which started against the Scarlets.
Team from: A Thomas, G Wyatt, G Chapman, H Luscombe, C Sweeney, N Brew, C Warlow, G Baber, A Black, S Jones, R Thomas, I Gough, L Charteris, J Ringer, M Owen, J Forster (capt). Replacements: A Brown, D Maddocks, G Robin-son, P Sidoli, R Oakley, B Breeze, J Bryant, J Ireland.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article