NEWPORT Gwent Dragons head into their European Challenge Cup semi-final brimming with confidence but wing Hallam Amos says a Murrayfield mauling means they know the size of the challenge that awaits them in Edinburgh.
The Dragons made it four wins on the spin when they stunned Guinness Pro12 champions Leinster with a stirring comeback on Sunday.
If they make it five successive successes on Friday night – something they haven't managed since October 2004 – then they will be in the first final in the region's 12-year history.
The Dragons are buoyant but are swift to point out that their run of victories will count for nothing come this weekend, nor will Edinburgh's 34-3 home humbling by Munster last Saturday.
"A final would be a first for the Dragons and hopefully on the back of the last few performances we can get there," said 20-year-old Amos.
"It's 80 minutes of cup rugby and anything can happen but we are confident going in. We are really looking forward to it and we are not naive about the challenge.
"It was a good win against Leinster but there are definitely parts of our game that need to improve, as there were against Cardiff Blues (in the quarter-final).
"But the momentum we've got is good, our confidence is building week on week and hopefully we can take that to Murrayfield and play some running rugby."
The Dragons were thrashed 24-10 in Edinburgh last October, producing their ugliest performance of the season in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Amos gifted Tim Visser the easiest of scores with a calamitous attempted right-footed clearance that was charged down and the horror show ensures feet are firmly on the ground.
"We went up there earlier in the season and got beaten quite comfortably, even if the scoreline wasn't huge (24-10), so we really need to turn up and perform on Friday," said the once-capped Wales wing.
The manner of the Dragons' recent successes bodes well for their trip to Scotland. They have had to show resilience and spirit to edge out Ulster, Treviso (a first league win at the Stadio Monigo), the Blues and Leinster in tough encounters.
Amos said: "We have been under the cosh but it's great having the older heads, (captain) Rhys Thomas especially. In every game you go through periods of ups and downs.
"We've stuck in it and if you are a score behind there is always a chance you will get a charge down or a score out of nowhere. That happened against Leinster and we got the win."
He continued: "We don't have too many big names so have to rely on us academy boys coming through with a sprinkling of older heads and that does bode well for a good team spirit."
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