ANGUS O’Brien will lead the Dragons with pride when they try to end their hoodoo against Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday evening.

The fly-half/full-back was this week named as co-captain after the loss of Wales lock Ben Carter to injury, with the skipper out of action until at least February.

O’Brien has been a firm fixture in the XV since returning from the Scarlets for a second spell at Rodney Parade.

All being well, the 30-year-old could bring up a century of Dragons appearances in the return fixture against the Blue and Blacks on Boxing Day.

O’Brien will hope to be chasing a derby double against the men in the capital, who they haven’t beaten in 17 games since the Challenge Cup quarter-final success in 2015.

The big-kicking back, who will be assisted by vice-captains Harri Keddie, Matthew Screech and Aneurin Owen, could become the first skipper since T Rhys Thomas to lead the Dragons to victory over Cardiff.

INFLUENTIAL: Dragons back Angus O'Brien has been named co-captainINFLUENTIAL: Dragons back Angus O'Brien has been named co-captain (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

“It was a nice surprise to be named co-captain,” said O’Brien. “It’s something I'm proud about, I've been at the club a long time, and Filo [Tiatia, interim head coach] spoke to me last week about the opportunity of leading the team with ‘Carts’.

“He's done a great job to start the season, but unfortunately, he's injured now for a few months. I'm really looking forward to working with him and the rest of the new vice-captains as well.

“I’ve never been a captain before but I've played a lot at 10 and 15 and it will be more of the same from me on field. I’ll be looking to direct the team as best I can, make those decisions and get on with the job.

“We've got very good leaders on the field throughout the throughout the squad. There's always plenty people to lean on and we work really well together.

“I’ve played with a lot of these boys for a long time. We know how each other click, and there'll be plenty of leaders out on the field with me.”

The Dragons return to action after a frustrating first block of the season that led to the exit of head coach Dai Flanagan after the failure to build on the opening day win against the Ospreys.

“It’s always a difficult time when you lose a head coach and that decision has been made,” said O’Brien. “As a squad now, it's about how we react and there is no better way than Cardiff away first game.”

It will be O’Brien’s first game as Dragons skipper and Tiatia’s first game as Dragons boss, although there hasn’t been a dramatic change at the Ystrad Mynach training base.

“It's been more of the same from Filo. He's been quite consistent in the way he's been, the standards he expects, and as a squad we are reacting well to that,” said O’Brien.

“We've worked with him for a few months as the defence coach and he's been very good at that and very good for the squad. We're all excited to work under him as well.”