TEENAGER Taine Basham doesn't care about his inexperience – the back rower intends to make the Dragons seniors sweat on their places.

The 19-year-old from Talywain has made five senior outings this season and, along with fellow bright prospect Lennon Greggains, caught the eye in the 28-15 loss to Guinness PRO14 play-off hopefuls Ulster last weekend.

Basham, who scored a hat-trick for Wales Under-20s in Italy last month, made 98 metres with ball in hand against the Irish province, carried 18 times, made 14 tackles and scored a consolation try with a powerful charge off the back of a five-metre scrum.

Caretaker head coach Ceri Jones praised his display – while also highlighting there is room for improvement in defence – and the prospect wants to earn more chances in the PRO14 run-in.

The Dragons are next in action at the Ospreys on Saturday, March 23 when they should have more back row options.

Wales duo Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright will be back from Six Nations duty and Harri Keddie (ankle), James Benjamin (neck) and Lewis Evans (calf) aim to be back from injury.

Basham admires his seniors but wants to be in the thick of it at the Liberty Stadium.

"I've got older boys in front of me with more experience," said Basham. "But as a youngster, no disrespect, but you don't really care. You just want to get in the squad yourself.

"You've got to push for a position and hopefully when you get a chance you have got to stick your hand up and make sure you take it.

"Even with the injuries we've had, you've got to work hard as they could just as easily have gone with an older head.

"In fairness to Ceri (Jones), he trusts our youngsters and the boys coming through. I have a lot of respect for him.

"If you make a mistake you know about it! If it's a lack of effort you know about it, but if you are putting that work in and it is a mistake you learn from then he is fine with it.

"The Dragons set-up and the academy with Chappy (manager James Chapron) is definitely the right pathway for me. He has told me I am improving and hopefully I can improve even more."

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The Dragons have just four games left this season with a trip to the Ospreys at the end of the month followed by an away double-header in South Africa against the Kings and Cheetahs before a Judgement Day finale against the Scarlets.

They were unable to sign off with a win in Newport after being overpowered by Ulster but Basham believes it was a strong response to their 57-7 humiliation in Treviso the previous weekend.

"You are always frustrated with a loss, but after Benetton we owed ourselves, the coaching staff and obviously the fans, at the last home game, a performance. I feel we can be proud of it," said Basham, who made his Dragons debut at the Scarlets in January, 2018.

"Ulster were a typical Irish pack. They carry, they are big, physical and they know what to do and are structured.

"They played a bit as well and at times we dealt with it, but at other times our own individual mistakes, including myself, let us down a little bit."