JOE Davies hopes that slugging it out with the Dragons' fiercest rivals in training will help them stand up to Edinburgh's physical approach on Friday night.

The Rodney Parade region will attempt to end their four-year, 39-game away losing streak in the Guinness PRO14 when they head to Murrayfield (kick-off 7.35pm).

They haven't played since being edged out by title hopefuls Munster 8-7 in the Newport rain at the end of last month.

The two-week break for the start of the Six Nations led to caretaker boss Ceri Jones and his management getting creative.

Last week the squad was put through their paces for two days by the Welsh Guards in Ystrad Mynach and on Friday they held a training session with Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park.

While there was no repeat of the infamous dust-up with Bath, when the front rows traded blows, the packs enjoyed a tune-up ahead of the Dragons' clash with Edinburgh and Blues' meeting with Glasgow.

"We've got to nullify Edinburgh's scrum and focused on that against the Blues. It was a good physical session to prep for this Friday," said the 23-year-old.

"It was a bit tasty in the scrums and lineouts, and then there were five-minute blocks full-on. It took us out of our environment to the Arms Park in the rain and gale-force wind, so it was a good taster for what could come up in Scotland."

The Dragons took the spoils 18-12 when the teams met at Rodney Parade in November, edging it thanks to a 25-phases defensive stand at the death.

South Wales Argus:

"Edinburgh are going to have a big, physical carrying game," said Davies. "We have to match that and then go one up on them.

"Our defensive performance kept them at bay that day, so that's something we have to replicate.

"It's big, physical, straight carrying and I enjoy the direct game when it's not so much of a kicking battle in the middle or the park, running back and forth."

The lock from Caldicot enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2017/18 when he featured in 25 games but Friday will be just his seventh of this campaign.

The arrival of Brandon Nansen blocked his path to be captain Cory Hill's second row partner but the Samoan suffered a torn hamstring at the start of January.

With Hill on Six Nations duty, Davies is set to join forces with in-form Matthew Screech.

"At the start of the season I wasn't where I wanted to be but since Christmas I have been doing better. I've just got to keep progressing and keep going up," he said.

"Bringing Brandon, an international lock, in is great for competition and the environment, so I had to bide my time.

"There were a couple of games when I possibly didn't put in my best performance and Brandon did. In our industry, if you don't play well then you don't play the next week."

The Dragons are waiting for news from the Wales management about the availability of Hallam Amos.

The wing/full-back came off the bench in the Six Nations win against Italy in Rome on Saturday and it is a rest week for the tournament.

"It will be a last minute thing if he is available," said coach Barry Maddocks.

""We have made contingencies because he is a quality player that we want to get involved if we can."

The Edinburgh game has come too soon for Wales tighthead Leon Brown, who is on the comeback trail from a broken thumb suffered against Leinster at the start of December.

The prop, who is in the Six Nations squad, has been taking part in running, skills and weights but does not yet have the grip strength required for a return to action.

Taine Basham is back training with the Dragons after scoring a hat-trick for Wales Under-20s in Italy from number eight.

The 19-year-old is in the mix for Murrayfield, although Jones is spoilt for choice in the back row with Harri Keddie, Nic Cudd and Ollie Griffiths likely to continue after impressing against Munster.