DRAGONS Under-20s head coach Wayne Jones is urging his charges to stake a claim for national selection when they take on their Blues counterparts at Eugene Cross Park tonight (kick-off 7.15pm).

Full back Jason Tovey and lock Ashley Sweet, who is skipper in Ebbw Vale tonight, both featured in the Junior World Champion-ship in the summer while loosehead prop Aaron Coundley narrowly missed out on selection.

Jones knows what is needed to progress to the national squad after being part of the coaching team that helped Wales to a fourth-place finish in the Junior World Championship.

And he is stressing the importance of impressing new head coach Phil Davies in the coming weeks to ensure they are named in the Six Nations squad.

Jones said: “It’s a shop window and if the players do well then they can seal a place in the national squad, and once there they can push for senior regional contracts. If they need any more motivation than that then I fear for them.

“This competition is a big chance for young players to make an impression against their peers and that makes things go up a level.

“A number of them have been doing well in the Premiership but this is an opportunity to go up against their immediate rivals.”

The Dragons have selected a strong side for tonight’s clash with Tovey and Coundley having played regional rugby this season, while a host of their team-mates have been featuring prominently in the Premiership.

“We’ve got a strong side on paper but we have still got to go out there and perform,” said Jones. “We are in a bit of a transition period because of the changes in our management structure and perhaps are playing a bit of catch-up with the others, but the sessions we’ve had have been excellent.

“The Blues will have the ability to play a tight or expansive game but the key for us is to match them up front and I feel we have the pack to do that.

“Then it’s up to us to use the talent that we have behind.”

Dragons: J Tovey, M Pewtner, A Hughes, L Plummer, I Coombes, D Langdon, J Leadbeater, A Coundley, C Attwell, S Maguire, L Bray, A Sweet (captain), M Allen, R Jenkins, J Thomas. Replacements: D Watchurst, C Fillier, S Pailor, T Falatau, D Jones, O Halford, T Driver.

* The Dragons travel to face the Scarlets at Narberth on Wednesday, November 5, before hosting the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Wednesday, November 19.