A GLANCE at the 2012/13 fixture list should swiftly quash any hope of Newport Gwent Dragons having it easy by taking on Glasgow in the international period, writes Chris Kirwan.

Gregor Townsend's side were without their sizeable Scotland contingent when the teams met in the RaboDirect Pro12 at Scotstoun last November and at Rodney Parade in February.

It didn't knock them off their stride – they racked up a pair of bonus point wins on their way to a third-place finish.

The meeting in Glasgow was demoralising with the hosts scoring five tries in a 37-6 drubbing but that was nothing compared to the clash in Newport.

The visitors romped to an embarrassing 60-3 win, crossing the whitewash eight times to inflict the heaviest defeat in the Rodney Parade region's history.

"The two games last season were comfortably our worst performances, so there is a lot on it this time around," said Dragons lock Robert Sidoli.

"It still sits badly with a lot of the boys and we need to address what went on.

"Games with Glasgow have usually been good contests since I have been at the Dragons, they used to be evenly-matched but they opened up a gap on us last season.

"We've worked hard so far in the Pro12 and we hope to take some momentum from our win against Wasps into the game.

"But there is also the realisation that Glasgow in Glasgow is a totally different challenge to an LV= Cup game."

Glasgow, who are second in the RaboDirect Pro12, are without the likes of Ruaridh Jackson, Duncan Weir, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Ryan Grant, Moray Low and Chris Cusiter for Friday's encounter because of Scotland's Test against Australia.

However, they are boosted by the presence of livewire scrum-half/wing Niko Matawalu who has been released from Fiji duty to feature.

Glasgow have lost just one game this season (to leaders Munster) and have shipped just three tries in their seven fixtures.