THE tussle for starts in the first hit-out of the summer against Montpellier has intensified after the Dragons returned for their second block of pre-season.

Bernard Jackman's squad were back at Ystrad Mynach yesterday, fresh from a week off after returning to training at the end of June.

The Irishman, who has taken the reins from Kingsley Jones, now intends to ramp up the rugby work after a previous heavy conditioning load alongside elements of his new attacking game plan.

The first test of their progress comes on Friday, August 11 when, after a week-long training camp in France, they take on Top 14 giants Montpellier in Aveyron.

Jackman insists every player in his squad has a fair crack at earning the chance to make a first impression.

"I am going to pick the team for Montpellier based on what we have seen in pre-season," said the head coach.

"I don't care who was number one, two or three last year, I don't care who couldn't do this, that or the other. It's about what they can do now in a different environment.

"It's my job to make sure that environment is conducive to high performance and that our players are challenged and feel they are getting better every day."

The French trip was set up before the Welsh Rugby Union took over the Dragons and appointed Jackman.

It promises to be a challenging weekend as the Rodney Parade region will be taking on Northampton in a friendly at Franklin's Gardens the following afternoon.

Jackman will discuss team selection with opposite number Jim Mallinder ahead of that clash with the Saints having friendlies against Glasgow and Ulster pencilled in before their Premiership opener.

"It's very difficult, we are going to have to send 14 guys back from Montpellier on the Friday and they will meet up with a group that has stayed here," said the boss.

"As coaches we will fly back and get to Northampton on Saturday, meet up and play the game. That means those playing against Northampton can still be judged, but we will also take into account that it's not an ideal situation because they will have very little time to train together.

"Montpellier start the Top 14 the week after playing us, so it's their final prep and they have a star-studded side. That will be a challenge while Northampton are no duds either, so it is going to be hard to manage.

"But pre-season is just about getting minutes and making sure everyone gets a fair crack to show they should be in for the first game of the season."

The Dragons finish their tune-up with a trip to face English champions Exeter at Sandy Park on Saturday, August 19.

The first competitive game of the Jackman era is on the first weekend of September with the new format of the Guinness PRO14, and the introduction South African duo of the Cheetahs and Kings, set to be confirmed shortly, possibly as soon as this afternoon.

The league will be split into two conferences, each featuring two Welsh regions, a pair of Irish provinces and one team from Scotland, Italy and South Africa.

The play-offs will see the second and third-placed teams clash for the right to join the conference winners in the semi-finals.