DRAGONS boss Bernard Jackman has told his Wales hopefuls they must show they can handle the heat of tonight’s derby at Cardiff Blues if they are to force their way into Warren Gatland’s squad.

The Rodney Parade region will attempt to end a 15-game drought against regional rivals when they head to the capital this evening (kick-off 7.35pm).

They will take to the field with 13 Welsh-qualified players and eight prime candidates hoping to impress the national management ahead of the Tests against Australia, Georgia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Captain and lock Cory Hill will aim to keep his place in the Wales squad, speedsters Hallam Amos and Ashton Hewitt need to catch the eye in the fierce battle for back three places, flanker Ollie Griffiths wants to force his way into the fold after a Test debut against Tonga in June and centre Tyler Morgan is fuelled by a summer recall and fourth cap against Samoa.

In addition to the existing internationals, uncapped hooker Elliot Dee, tighthead Leon Brown and centre Jack Dixon have staked a claim with bright starts to the season.

With the squad set to be named before the derby at the Ospreys at the end of the month, former Ireland hooker Jackman, who won nine caps and lifted the Heineken Cup with Leinster, knows his charges need to impress tonight.

“It’s huge and if it’s anything like Ireland you have your normal PRO14 games and then your inter-provincial and Champions Cup games that are levels up,” said the head coach, who joined the Dragons this summer.

“I’ve always found that derby games have been the same level to the Champions Cup and not far off international standard, so that’s a really good test for our youngsters to see if they can adapt to that and excel in those conditions and under that pressure.

“If you want to play Test record then you have to show a track record and an appetite for stepping up and embracing that intensity and challenge that derby matches and rivalry brings.

“We’ve got a very young team – our average age in the first five rounds is 24. That is very young and they are on a learning curve with tonight another step on that process.”

The Dragons have been hit hard by injuries with 29 players, a figure including academy talent, unable to train at the start of the week.

They have been boosted by Amos (dead leg) and Hewitt (ankle) passing fitness tests with Jackman able to retain 14 of his side that beat Southern Kings last weekend, the sole change being wing Jared Rosser for injured full-back Carl Meyer.

“The pack is pretty settled, which is great. We’ve been able to work our scrum and lineouts, it was more of our team defence session that was affected,” said Jackman, who is forced to name an inexperienced bench.

“The key will be set piece. I am sure the Blues will try and get the upper hand there and have a very strong scrum and a very strong lineout.

“That’s a big, big challenge for our pack to be consistent for 80 minutes in terms of producing the set piece ball that our backs are starting to really thrive off.”