MICHAEL Owen says it can be a watershed moment for Newport Gwent Dragons if they beat Cardiff Blues in the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final.

The Welsh rivals meet in the last eight at Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 12.45pm) with the victors going on to face either London Irish or Edinburgh.

Former Dragons captain Owen believes that the clash, a first Welsh knockout derby since Llanelli beat Cardiff in 2000, presents his former team with a golden opportunity to shake off their tag as Wales' whipping boys.

"It's a huge opportunity and a victory could really transform the fortunes of the Dragons," said the former number eight who is now director of rugby at Haileybury College in Hertfordshire.

"The Dragons have been fighting for a long time to avoid being seen as Wales' fourth region and they won't get a much better stage to make a statement and change their perception than this.

"I remember playing for Pontypridd in 2002, when we really should have beaten Sale in the final of the Parker Pen Shield.

"We lost the final but that cup run was huge for my career and for the likes of Gethin Jenkins, Mefin Davies, Ceri Sweeney, Sonny Parker, Richard Parks, Brent Cockbain, Robert Sidoli.

"Lots of us went on to be part of the 2005 Grand Slam team so this weekend's game is a massive chance for the young Dragons players to kick on and make a name for themselves."

The Dragons have not played knockout European rugby since Owen was part of the 2006/7 team that made it to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.

He was at the base of the scrum in the 39-17 quarter-final victory against Brive – the only knockout game to have been played at Rodney Parade in the regional rugby era – and in the spirited 46-29 loss to Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin.

"We had a taste of a potential cup run and I remember that the concentration levels and focus went up in the week building up to Brive," said Owen, who won 41 caps.

"Everyone was switched on and we played really well in the quarter-final then we gave a really good account of ourselves at Clermont.

"It should be a great occasion on Saturday and I am sure the passionate crowd will be fired up for it at Rodney Parade. Hopefully Toby Faletau can put in a big performance the Dragons can do it."