MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: 27 December Kick-off: 1800 GMT
Coverage: Live on S4C, plus commentary on BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru and the BBC Sport website

Paul Tito captained the Blues to their first piece of silverware last season

The Cardiff Blues have been warned not to dismiss the Newport Gwent Dragons as Wales' weakest region ahead of Sunday's Welsh Magners League derby.

The Dragons, traditionally the weakest of Wales' four regions, have won just once at their illustrious neighbours since regional rugby's inception.

But Blues skipper Paul Tito said: "They are not just the fourth region anymore, they've recruited well and are hungry."

And the fourth-placed Dragons are the highest Welsh team in the league.

Paul Turner's team may have only lost once at home this season but they have also just triumphed once on the road.

The unfashionable Rodney Parade region have been the bottom placed Welsh team in the Magners League for the last two seasons and needed victories in play-offs against Italian teams to qualify for the Heineken Cup.

The Dragons even failed to qualify for Europe in the 2006-07 season but Turner, who has just signed a two-year contract extension, has transformed the hard-up region into Wales' leading side in this year's Magners League.

But the Dragons' only victory at the Blues was in the first year of regional rugby and have not beaten their South Wales rivals in six meetings.

Dai Young's Blues may lie two places from bottom in the domestic league at Christmas but the Cardiff side have won four out of their last five games at their new Cardiff City Stadium home.

But second row forward Tito, who skippered the Blues to EDF Energy Cup glory and the Heineken Cup semi-final last season, is wary of the Dragons' potential threat.

"They will be tough and backing themselves to come to our new stadium and getting a win," said the New Zealander.

"They've always had a good forward pack but their backs are really clicking this year. They've some really exciting backs and we will have to be on our game to get a win.

"The Dragons have been one of the better teams in Europe and have been fairly consistent in all competitions this year."

Back-rower Dan Lydiate and lock Luke Charteris are already Welsh internationals while young full-back Jason Tovey and back-rower Joe Bearman are hoping to break onto the Wales scene.

While Dragons outside-half James Arlidge and scrum-half Wayne Evans are impressing Tito as the Kiwi says they have been "outstanding."

"The Dragons don't moan, get on with the job and have a good team spirit," said Tito.

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And Blues' Lions and Wales star centre added: "They have stepped up and are the form Welsh team in the Magners League this season.

"They've some good young players who play well collectively and have a lot of hungry guy who want to break into the Welsh national team."

But Roberts points out there are more than bragging rights at stake as the bottom Welsh team in the Magners League at the end of the season will not qualify for the Heineken Cup and play in Europe's second tier tournament, the Challenge Cup.

"There are bragging rights but the most important thing is that the fourth Welsh team will go straight into the European Challenge Cup and not have a Heineken Cup play-off.

"So the Magners League now becomes crucial for the Welsh teams as they want to qualify for the Heineken Cup."

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