CENTRE Ashley Smith has called on Newport Gwent Dragons to show the spirit of Paris to upset the odds against Ulster on Saturday evening.

The Dragons head to Belfast to take on the Guinness Pro12 title hopefuls on an 18-game losing streak against Irish opponents on their own turf.

The last time they avoided defeat was their 22-22 draw at Ulster in February 2010 and few will be expecting that miserable run to end this weekend – but that was the case a fortnight ago.

The Dragons headed to Stade Francais as huge underdogs but emerged with a stunning 38-22 success.

Smith said: "Nobody will fancy us to get anything at Ulster but we will go there with the same mindset as Stade Francais and where better to produce a big performance than Ravenhill?

"That win gave us so much belief and we just have to go to Ulster with the same approach and have a go at them."

The Dragons need to pick themselves up after a deflating home loss to Newcastle in the European Rugby Challenge Cup when they played some super rugby in attack only to shoot themselves in the foot.

The Falcons took command of the group after sneaking a 30-26 win at Rodney Parade with their hosts left to rue a pair of tries from charge downs and three botched five-metre lineouts.

"It was devastating," said Smith, who scored one of three tries. "The game was there to win and we played some very good rugby but Newcastle hung in there and we gifted them the points.

"To give them so many points through stupid mistakes was deflating but there are still some positives in attack and hopefully we can build on them."

Smith is the region’s only fit centre so the Dragons have signed Carmarthen Quins’ Rhys Williams on a month’s loan.

Wing Tom Prydie had been deputising in midfield but neither he nor wing/full-back Hallam Amos will be available for Ulster, even though they appear unlikely to feature for Wales against Australia a week on Saturday.

Ospreys pair Justin Tipuric and Aaron Jarvis are the only members of Warren Gatland’s squad that are being released for weekend action.