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

Biggar is ahead of Tovey in the battle of Wales' fly-halves

Dragons coach Paul Turner was unmoved by Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar's confidence ahead of his head-to-head with Jason Tovey in Saturday's derby.

Wales 10 Biggar said the Magners League game will be the "biggest test" faced by in-form Dragons stand-off Tovey.

"I respect Biggar, he's a good player," said Turner, a former Wales fly-half.

"It's his call whether he wants to make comments about his own form and put himself under pressure, but it wouldn't have happened in my day."

Biggar, 20, is renowned for his confidence and verbosity, key elements in his game that have helped lift him above James Hook in the Ospreys fly-half pecking order.

Dan and Jason are on a par with how they run the game for their respective teams Paul Turner

He started against Samoa last autumn and is expected to compete with Hook for time in the Wales 10 jersey this summer, national coach Warren Gatland having suggested the need to build strength in depth behind Stephen Jones.

While Biggar has been Jones' Wales understudy this season Tovey, another richly talented 20-year-old, has had no senior recognition.

"I know [Tovey] well from age-grade rugby, it'll be a great battle," said Biggar, ahead of a Rodney Parade showdown that looks to be brewing into a classic.

"Jason's been playing well, confident and controlling against very good teams - but this will be his biggest test.

"It would be lovely to get on that summer tour [to New Zealand].

"It would be a fantastic tour to be involved in. With a Test against South Africa before we leave as well... it's going to be pretty tough, but those are the sort of games you want to be involved in."

Biggar admits to being "frustrated" during the Six Nations, having been with the Wales squad throughout without getting any game time.

"You learn from being with Wales with the standard of coaching and players around you, but it's great to be back to the bread and butter with some big games coming up," he said.

"We have two Welsh derbies then Biarritz and it's all about getting back to a bit of form.

"My form before the Six Nations was very good, hopefully I can get back to that and things will take care of themselves."

While Turner respects the qualities that Biggar brings to the game, he was quietly confident in the abilities of his own fly-half.

606: DEBATE What do you make of the Biggar-Tovey comments?

"We'll have to look after Biggar and stop him playing, it'll be a good battle between him and Tovey," Turner told BBC Sport Wales.

"I played that position myself so I understand you can put a lot of pressure on yourself.

"It's good for the kid to come out with things, he knows what he wants and he's a confident lad. He's had some good form and deserved the caps he's got.

"Dan and Jason are on a par with how they run the game for their respective teams. It's good that Wales have these youngsters coming through.

"Jason's taken the bull by the horns in the last couple of months in the 10 spot when Jason Arlidge's form dipped and Shaun Connor was injured.

"We shoved him up into the hot seat, he's shown great composure and his goal kicking's been very good.

It's all about how you react. You can either go into your shell or really come back and express yourself Dan Biggar

"He's managed the games physically and is mentally a lot tougher these days.

"I expect him to be targeted by the Ospreys, but he's gone away to Saracens and Ravenhill and put in top-notch performances."

The Ospreys are expecting a warm welcome in Newport, with the Dragons also chasing a Magners League play-off spot.

Ospreys forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys praised the "hatred" that bounces off the Rodney Parade crowd, a view that Turner and the Dragons would not be drawn upon.

Humphreys backed his team to rise to the challenge of the venue and occasion, a view supported by Biggar.

"Again it's the type of game you want to be involved in, against a packed, hostile crowd in that type of stadium," Biggar told BBC Sport Wales.

"It'll be a great atmosphere, I'm really looking forward to an absolute belter.

"It's all about how you react. You can either go into your shell or really come back and express yourself. I'd say that the players we've got will express themselves.

"It's good having a bit of banter with the crowd. They probably enjoy it as much as the players."

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