TOM Prydie believes the threat of the axe can help Newport Gwent Dragons crank up their attacking game in the Guinness Pro12.

The Rodney Parade region have the worst attack in the league with just eight tries from nine games and head into crunch clashes with fellow strugglers Zebre and Cardiff Blues on a 277-minute drought.

They have been hindered by a catalogue of injuries in the backs that has left them unable to field a settled line-up.

The Dragons suffered another blow when Ashley Smith broke his jaw against Bucharest in the European Rugby Challenge Cup last Friday, joining full-back Lee Byrne (shoulder) and wing Aled Brew (back) on the sidelines.

But there is still plenty of tussling for starting spots with Jack Dixon back in the mix following wrist surgery and his fellow centres Tyler Morgan and Pat Leach nearing a return from knee injuries.

"There's a lot of competition now and we saw Jason Tovey dropped for a few games so everyone is on their toes," said Wales international Prydie, who moved from full-back to centre when Smith was forced off.

"Boys are playing a lot better and know they have to be on their game or a week later they won't be playing.

"It's been well documented that we have a lot of injuries in the centres but Ross Wardle has been playing very well since coming back (from a knee injury) and stepped it up against Bucharest (when Smith went off).

"We haven't been on the top of our game in the backs this season but in the last couple of weeks we've been working really hard in training to stick together as a unit on the field. That's come across and need to keep it going in a big block of games."

The Dragons scored 17 tries in their European double-header against Bucharest, running in a regional record 12 in last Friday's 69-17 win at Rodney Parade.

It won't be as easy against Zebre in Newport on Sunday but Prydie, an unused member of Wales' squad for the autumn internationals, is relishing the challenge.

"It was great to get the win and get that many points on the board but we know there is a still a lot to work on," he said.

"We will come up against stronger opposition so need to get our heads down and work hard and push forward in the league.

"Zebre are above us in the table but we are looking forward to the challenge because we've had a few poor games at home and everyone is really looking forward to this one to get a win."