NEWPORT Gwent Dragons were a rabble at Murrayfield in October but scrum-half Luc Jones knows they will be a different, more polished side in Edinburgh on Friday night.

The Dragons travel to Scotland for the semi-final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup on a four-game winning streak.

They have downed Ulster, Treviso, Cardiff Blues and Leinster and while they remain slight underdogs for the Edinburgh mission, there is a quiet confidence in the camp.

That is because they have steadily grown as the season has gone on and are unrecognisable from the side that was trashed at Murrayfield in the Guinness Pro12.

A demoralising afternoon was even worse than the 24-10 scoreline suggests with the meek Dragons' failings there for all to see courtesy of the Sky Sports cameras.

"Both sides are much better than that day," said Jones. "There were a lot of changes last summer here with lots of players leaving and plenty coming in.

"Everyone was getting used to things at the start of the season and then it didn't help when all our centres got injured.

"It was difficult because the team was changing every week. There was no continuity and that showed in our performances.

"But we knew that we had a lot of injuries and just had to keep working hard. Our win at Stade Francais (the week after Edinburgh) gave us a lot of confidence and the Challenge Cup has really helped us. We've always known as a group that we can perform like we have been."

Jones, who played in last year's Junior World Championship, is still learning his craft as a scrum-half after specialising at the position under the tutelage of former Wales Under-20s head coach Pat Horgan at Neath.

The 20-year-old played fly-half at Monmouth School – with Dragons academy prospect Owen Davies his half-back partner and Wales wing Hallam Amos on his outside – but his development has largely been on the training paddock and off the bench this season.

Jones has made 12 appearances for the Dragons but the LV= Cup encounter against London Welsh is his solitary start and he has played second fiddle to in-form Bath-bound Jonathan Evans, who is certain to wear 9 on his back at Murrayfield.

"I haven't been involved as much as I'd like but fair play to Jonny, he has been playing really well and that's good to see," said Jones, who will battle with new recruits Sarel Pretorius and Charlie Davies next season.

"I just have to be patient and I can understand why I haven't been brought on because you don't really want to disrupt the momentum by bringing some on in a decision-making role.

"But we are a team and those of us that didn't get on against Leinster weren't bitter because we just wanted to get the win."

If Jones does get onto the pitch at Murrayfield then he hopes that it's a case of picking up the baton from Evans and finishing the job.

He said: "My role on Friday could be to add energy but hopefully it will be to close out the game!

"There's a lot of excitement and winning against Leinster on Sunday gives us a lot of confidence but it's a cup game and form goes out of the window.

"Edinburgh are a good side but we hope to play our normal game and get over the line to reach the final."