NEWPORT Gwent Dragons head into their big Magners League derby against the Scarlets on Friday with skipper Tom Willis convinced they can finish in the top four and clinch a place in the new end of season play-offs.

If they are to achieve that target head coach Paul Turner insists they have got to improve their away form, starting with their visit to Parc y Scarlets.

Willis admitted, “I've got my eyes set on being in the league semi-finals, though there’s a lot of water to pass under the bridge before then and a lot of stuff can happen.

“But I’m just re-focussing (it will be his first appearance since the opening game of the season). This once has got plenty of intensity and we’ll have a good tussle, it’s about getting points in the league table and it’s a change in focus from the Heineken Cup.

“That has been a success and there’s still something to play for, but the Scarlets will have real belief after their win last weekend (against London Irish), it was a mighty fine scalp so morale will be high and they’ll get a few through the gate.

“I've been here for 15 months now and while we struggled last year I always felt we were going in the right direction. A few have fronted up, it’s a good environment and we’ve got some quality coaches. “We are building and there is a sense of belief, the Dragons do play a bit and score tries, one thing we do is use the ball. Home and away last season against the Scarlets we threw it away after leading so we are due.”

Turner said, “It'll be a big game, they’ll be unhappy with their league form, we’re not delighted about ours winning three at home and competing for a game and a half away so we’ve got to start doing something on the road.

“We’ve got two tough ones at Llanelli and Edinburgh so we need to start getting something on the road. We’re going to have to match them up front, we’ve had some good games against the Scarlets but we missed two good opportunities last year, we have certainly got the desire to go there and get the result.

“A lot of our guys have put their hands up with good performances, like Rob Sidoli who’s always going to be in and around the national squad, Adam Jones has been playing well, Luke and Dan were at their very best against Glasgow, Wayne Evans has been playing good football and if we reintroduce Matthew Watkins he'll have a point to prove as well as Gavin Thomas.”

Explaining his reason for bringing in Palmer and Davies as two new props, Turner said: “With the participation agreement (between the regions and the WRU) we should be looking for young Welsh props.

“We didn't go into trying to get props from another country though we didn’t feel there were any props in our region who could step up. Pat played for us two years ago against Leinster and when I spoke to him he said he’d like the opportunity.

“He could have disappeared, I feel for young props, we expect them to be ready by the time they’re 21 but a prop’s time is in his late 20s.”