SILENCING the famous Kingsholm roar is going to be key if Newport Gwent Dragons want to make the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup at Gloucester this Saturday (12.45pm), according to Nigel Davies.

Ebbw Vale head coach Davies, who spent two seasons as the Aviva Premiership club’s director of rugby, knows all too well how intimidating the Cherry and Whites fans can make it for visiting teams.

However, the former Llanelli and Wales centre is also aware that there is “an anxiety that runs through Kingsholm” if the home supporters don’t like what they are seeing on the pitch.

And Davies believes the Dragons must get on top of Gloucester early in their last-eight clash to give themselves the best chance of claiming a famous win.

“I think the Dragons have got an opportunity,” said Davies. “What Kingsley and Lyn will be aware of is the Kingsholm factor, which can work against Gloucester if the Dragons can keep the home crowd quiet for the first 20 minutes.

“The Dragons need to get hold of the ball early on and put Gloucester under pressure.

“Gloucester aren’t playing particularly well and if the Dragons can go there and move them about then Kingsholm can go very quiet.

“They are a fantastic crowd but if the team is not performing then they can get frustrated and get on the players’ backs.

“If things aren’t going well for Gloucester there is an anxiety that runs through Kingsholm and can rub off on the players.”

Davies reckons that his successor at Kingsholm, David Humphreys, has an “exceptional squad”, one which includes Welsh internationals Ross Moriarty, Richard Hibbard and James Hook.

But, like their opponents, Gloucester are not in the best of form going into today’s game – they have suffered four successive defeats in the league.

That said, the Cherry and Whites will be favourites to progress to the semi-finals, but Davies is adamant that the Dragons have nothing to lose.

“The Dragons have been on a bad run but I think they are playing some decent rugby, they’ve just got to believe in themselves,” he added.

“They have got a lot of potent attackers and if they get their counter-attack right then there are chances there for them.

“They will be the underdogs but they can use that in their favour. There is no real pressure on them.

“I don’t think expectations outside the camp will be great and a lot of the pressure is on Gloucester to get this right.

“It has not been a great season for them and they will be pinning their hopes on this competition to get them in the Champions Cup next season.”