SCARLETS centre Scott Williams is expecting a “tough game” from a “really strong” Newport Gwent Dragons when the two clash at Rodney Parade.

The Wales 2011 World Cup star is wary of his opponents, both sides go into the encounter with one win and one defeat in their league campaigns so far.

Much has changed for the Dragons since the summer with Lyn Jones taking over the coaching reins as director of rugby and Kingsley Jones now in charge of the region’s forwards.

A raft of signings has also given rise to a new sense of optimism as the region aims to improve their fortunes.

Williams is mindful of the Dragons’ encouraging beginning to their season which saw them beat the 2013 PRO12 finalists Ulster 15-8 in the opening game before a last-minute 16-13 defeat to Edinburgh the previous weekend.

“We’re expecting a really tough game,” said Williams, who was the try-scoring hero when Wales won the Triple Crown for the first time in their history against England at Twickenham last season.

“They beat Ulster in the first game of the season. They’re a different outfit now with different coaches and a couple of new signings.

“They look really strong so we’re expecting a really tough game.

“It’s a tough place to get a win so hopefully the forwards will do what they did last week and us backs can make things a bit better for them.”

Williams, 22, who has won 20 Wales caps, has started in both of the Scarlets’ RaboDirect PRO12 games which saw them walloped 42-19 by Leinster at home but recover to easily overcome Treviso 26-10 at Parc y Scarlets last weekend.

He will look to impress Wales head coach Warren Gatland in the coming weeks ahead of the autumn series, especially now that world class centre Jamie Roberts could be out of action if he fails to recover from an ankle injury.

The 2013 British and Irish Lions star sustained it while playing for his new club Racing Métro in their Top 14 victory over Perpignan in Paris earlier this month.

“It’s unlucky for Jamie and hopefully he’ll be okay,” he said. “I’m not thinking about that. I’m just concentrating on my own game and I know there are a lot of other contenders in the regions.

“It’s about playing consistently well.”