ALASTAIR Kellock, who captains Glasgow in Friday night’s Heineken Cup tie against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade, believes they are not the weakest Welsh regional team.

Glasgow were on the receiving end of a 30-19 defeat at the hands of the Dragons on their previous visit to the ground on September 18.

“We know them very well, this is the second season in a row we have been in the same group and we also play them home and away in the Magners. They are going really well at the moment and playing a good style of rugby,” said Kellock.

“Some people perceive them as the weakest region, but we don’t go along with that, and they are most certainly not playing like that right now.

“Rodney Parade is a difficult place to go and win and Tom Willis has made a big difference to them, he has generated a greater degree of ambition and that is paying dividends. When you play the Dragons they don’t give you anything, you have to work for whatever you get against them.”

The Dragons were hoping Willis would be fit after being out since the first match of the season against Ulster when he tore a calf muscle, but it now looks unlikely as he is still not 100% and lock Luke Charteris is set to lead the team for the third successive match.

They are also awaiting the results of X-ray examinations and scans on their injured props, with Nigel Hall, Ali McKenzie and Gethin Robinson all on the injured list with shoulder and hand problems.

But Phil Price, a former Ospreys academy loose head prop who is now with Bedwas, has recovered from the knee injury he suffered in the pre-season friendly against Worcester. He has been included in the Dragons’ Heineken Cup squad.