NEVER count us out. That is the upbeat message from Newport Gwent Dragons prop Adam Black who becomes the first player from any region to reach 100 Magners League appearances when he plays against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

Most people and pundits are heavily backing the Ospreys to inflict further pain on the Dragons and extend their sequence without winning to seven matches.

But Black, who has been with the Dragons since the inception of regional rugby, doesn't see it that way.

"The biggest thing about losing is that we don't accept it," said 32-year-old Black. "We will always try to bounce back and there's no better way to do it than go to the Liberty Stadium which is not as daunting a place as many think.

"It's a lovely stadium with great facilities and changing rooms, but it's still 15 against 15 out on the field.

"You like playing against the best and it's a good benchmark which will hopefully mirror what we'll have here in the next couple of years.

"I don't believe there's a problem at the Dragons. You'll always get someone who wants to move on, it's happening at other regions, it's part and parcel of the professional game. "Football has a transfer window and I think in rugby players will soon be able to move in mid-season.

"We are not sulking after the losing run, we are ready to play and win. The best thing at the Dragons is that we class ourselves as a family and I believe there is still that feeling here.

"Even the boys who are leaving are desperate to play in the last couple of games, and I don't know that the other regions have got that.

"There's a good team and squad here and we always seem to do okay at the Liberty and seem to raise our game a bit."

While Black is delighted to become the first player to reach the 100 mark what he really wants to celebrate the occasion is a victory against the star-studded Ospreys team.

The Dragons are six points behind their rivals and victory would put them right back in the mix to finish third Welsh team in the league and the battle to avoid the Heineken Cup play-off against the third placed Italian side.

"It's a massive game," acknowledged Black. "But whatever pack they put out we'll give as good as we get.

"If I was a betting man I'd put money on the Ospreys but the reality is we know we can go there and come away with a victory.

"We're the sort of side which likes a scrap and they won't want that. We play hard and direct and will try to stop the ball getting to their electric backs.

"If we stay in contention for around 60-65 minutes we can come away with a win. I'd rather scrap the 100th appearance and have the win, it's a great day for me to be the first to 100, but the win is what I want most."

The Dragons are hoping that lock Adam Jones will be available after being unwell for most of the week. He was able to do some training yesterday.

Squad: K Morgan, G Wyatt, P Emerick, R Davies, P Dollman, R Mustoe, C Sweeney, A Thomas, J Tovey, A Williams, W Evans, A Black, B Daly, S Jones, R Thomas, L Harrison, A Hall, A Jones, L Charteris, M Owen, C Charvis (captain), J Bearman, L Evans, R Parks, J Ringer. Kick off 7.35pm.