Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: "We honestly don't think about the run (that streak of 18 successive league wins over Dragons we mentioned earlier) at all because many of those wins have been last-minute scores.

"Games against the Dragons are always highly competitive, especially between the back rows at the breakdown.

"They've been unlucky with some narrow and late losses this season and we expect to face the very best of them emotionally given it's a derby and also the bounce of having a new coach."

Dragons interim head coach Filo Tiatai said: "Local derby games are really special.

"I remember playing against Cardiff when I played for the Ospreys, they’re special games when players have an opportunity to play against local rivals just up the road.

"Cardiff are a good team, the record is the record, but like anything there’s an opportunity this weekend to play at our best."

Cardiff start the day in eighth in the United Rugby Championship, having won three from six games.

Dragons are one place above bottom place Zebre in 15th, having only won once this season against Ospreys.

Bit of a faux pas from the hosts.

The team sheets have just been handed out to the media and the Dragons head coach is listed as... Dai Flanagan.

In case you've missed it, Filo Tiatia has taken over from his mate as head coach and it is the former New Zealand back row's first game in charge of the Rodney Parade side.

Awkward.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

New Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia has made six changes from the loss to Connacht, including Angus O'Brien starting at full-back and captaining Dragons for the first time.

Recalled Wales scrum-half Rhodri Williams, Taine Basham, Jared Rosser and Rodrigo Martinez also start, while George Nott replaces injured captain Ben Carter.

Scrum-half Morgan Lloyd, lock Joe Davies and prop Dmitri Arhip could make their first appearances of the season from the bench.

Dragons: O’Brien (capt); Dyer, Westwood, Owen, J Rosser; Evans, Williams; Martinez, Coghlan, Coleman, Screech, Nott, Lewis-Hughes, Basham, Wainwright.

Replacements: Benjamin, Seiuli, Arhip, Davies, Woodman, Lloyd, Wilson, Anderson

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales wing Josh Adams will make his first appearance in six months this evening after a hernia operation.

He is one of four changes from the win at Ulster last time out.

Fellow wing Harri Millard starts in the 11 shirt, while hooker Dafydd Hughes and flanker Thomas Young also return.

Cardiff:Winnett; Adams, Lee-Lo, Thomas (capt), Millard; Sheedy, A Davies; Byrne, Hughes, Assiratti, McNally, Williams, Donnell, Young, Lawrence.

Replacements: Lloyd, Domachowski, Litterick, S Davies, Mann, Bevan, Jennings, Hamer-Webb.

The United Rugby Championship returns this weekend after the international break, and what better way to return than with a Welsh derby?

Cardiff host Dragons in a battle of east versus east at the Arms Park.

The visitors are under the new management of the imposing Filo Tiatia following the departure of Dai Flanagan earlier this month.

In his first game in charge, Tiatia will be looking to end the longest losing streak in Welsh rugby.

Dragons have lost the last 18 league fixtures against Cardiff.

It's a decade-long run dating back to 2014 - but will that end today?

We'll find out soon enough with kick-off, but before then let's take a look at the teams.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency