MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Rodney Parade Date: Saturday, 27 March Kick-off: 1830 GMT
Coverage: Live on S4C, score updates on the BBC Sport website, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

The Ospreys are expecting another hot reception at Rodney Parade

Forwards coach Jon Humphreys says the passionate Dragons crowd will inspire his Ospreys side in Saturday's Magners League clash in Newport.

"You feel the passion of the crowd as soon as you get there, a certain amount of... hatred - which is great!" Humphreys told BBC Sport Wales.

But Dragons coach Paul Turner believes Humphreys' comments are motivational.

"It's a bit of spin in a way to try and liven his [Humphreys'] players up. But that's all well and good," said Turner.

Newport's Rodney Parade ground is the last traditional club venue in Welsh regional rugby, Ospreys, Scarlets and Blues having moved to new stadia.

"It signifies the old passion of the local derby," added Humphreys.

Humphreys knows the feeling well from his visits to Newport with the Black and Ambers' great rivals Cardiff, opposition fans coining the name "Offside Humphreys" for the hooker.

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"I loved that sort of passion when I went to play at Newport and I'm sure the boys will thrive on it," Humphreys told BBC Sport Wales.

"The opposition feel it and I'm sure that their team feels it.

"That's the sort of thing we need to develop in the new stadiums that can be a little soulless, they don't have the history of the old battles - the Dragons still have that.

"It takes time. The Ospreys are not there after five years [at the Liberty Stadium], but hopefully we will get there."

The Rodney Parade atmosphere seemed to rattle a weakened Ospreys outfit in their last trip to Newport, when they took a 40-19 thrashing in the LV= Cup.

Turner says people cannot underestimate the atmosphere generated by the crowds in Newport.

"It's just a feather in the cap for this place," insisted Turner, reacting to Humphrey's comments.

"We have always proved that if we play some decent rugby and get some victories here then the crowd's superb.

"It is the only rugby-playing ground of the four regions at the moment.

"Whether we have done it by good planning or by default this is a great stadium. It is one of the great atmosphere grounds in British rugby.

"What we have maintained is a true rugby ground atmosphere

"It is good of them [the Ospreys] to say that. We all admire what the other three regions have got in terms of new stadium and new training facilities.

"But that added ingredient of atmosphere takes time to develop, and we have got that. It's been here for a number of years.

"They don't like coming to this ground. That's pretty evident with a few of their comments this week. A little bit of spin.

"But they have only won once here in regional rugby. We have got to play really well against a quality side to win.

"To sell a game I think the game is already sold. It will be a great atmosphere that will be for sure."

The last five games between the two regions in all competitions have all been won by the home side on the day.

The Dragons have only lost once in Newport in the league this season, while the Ospreys' only previous victory on Dragons soil was 27-13 on 8 May, 2007.

"The Dragons are a very physical team," said Humphreys.

"They have a very good line-out and line-out defence and two wingers who can score from anywhere.

"I've always been a fan of [the Dragons' ex-Ospreys wing] Aled Brew who seems to play his best rugby at the Dragons.

"They've got a 10 [Jason Tovey] who can control games and kick goals, so they're a pretty complete team at the moment."

Both sides are looking to climb into the Magners League play-off spots, while the Ospreys have promised to name their strongest team for their next three fixtures that could define their season.

After the Rodney Parade trip they host the Scarlets in another Magners League derby, before facing a daunting Heineken Cup quarter-final against Biarritz in San Sebastian.

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