MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea Date: Friday, 7 May Kick-off: 1905 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC TWO Wales & online

Ospreys scrum-half Mike Phillips says the Dragons will face a different side in Friday's Magners League derby.

Ospreys have already lost twice to the Rodney Parade side this year, 40-19 in the LV= Cup and 28-20 in the league.

Phillips railed at his side's lack of commitment after the league loss in Newport and says his side have rallied.

"They caught us cold up there," said Phillips, whose opposite number Wayne Evans says he will try to "needle" him again in the return game in Swansea.

"But after the performances of the last few weeks we can hopefully put things right on Friday.

Whenever you play against Phillips a coach tells you to get under his skin... but he has matured, I don't think he reacts… much Dragons scrum-half Wayne Evans

"[At Rodney Parade] we had a lot of players coming back after the Six Nations.

"It was a good time to play us, but, fair play to [the Dragons], they stuck to their guns superbly on the night.

"They were far hungrier than us, far more efficient than us in the contact areas, and they wanted it more than us.

"The Dragons are a good side who have played very well this year, it will be a difficult game.

"But we've played a lot of games in the last few weeks. We're a far closer-knit group having been able to train together, there's a lot more bonding going on and we're performing really well on the field."

The Ospreys have secured a Magners League play-off semi-final ahead of the game, but need to stay ahead of Glasgow and Munster for a home draw.

They have won their last seven home games and have not lost at the Liberty Stadium to a fellow Welsh region since the Scarlets were victorious on 11 September, 2007.

The Dragons, who cannot make the semis, have only twice won away from home against a fellow Welsh region, at Cardiff Blues in November 2003 and at the Scarlets in September 2007.

They have just one win from their last eight away games and are missing 13 players to injury.

But Wales scrum-half hopeful Evans says his side will be up for the challenge, and he will be ready to take on British and Irish Lions star Phillips.

"It was a good battle [against Phillips in the league win], I enjoyed playing against someone of his calibre," Evans told BBC Sport Wales.

"Obviously a lot depends on how the forwards are doing and they won the battle in March - if they can do the same down there we'll see what happens.

"Whenever you play against Phillips a coach tells you to get under his skin because you know how he can be, but he has matured, I don't think he reacts… much.

"You always look forward to playing against the best and he has been the best in Britain for some time."

Evans remains hopeful of securing a place on Wales' summer tour to New Zealand and says that a good performance at the Liberty Stadium could help.

"I've been happy with my form," said Evans. "I was talked about [for international honours] in the autumn, then I got injured before the Six Nations, now I'm being talked about again for the summer tour.

"I'm maybe towards the top three scrum-halves in Wales this season, I'm not holding my breath but if it came about I'd be happy.

"Coaches watch most Welsh derbies and most games through the year.

"It's about form all season, but if I can do it at the Ospreys it will answer some questions."

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