DRAGONS "machine" Ross Moriarty has been backed to stand firm against England's power game in Wales' seismic Six Nations clash in Cardiff.

The number eight will be tasked with putting in some trademark telling blows when both teams take to the Principality Stadium turf with Grand Slam hopes on the line (kick-off 4.45pm).

England travel on the back of crushing victories against Ireland and France when they comprehensively won the collisions.

If Wales are to keep their title hopes alive then they need Moriarty & Co to fly into strong-running Billy Vunipola, Manu Tuilagi, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler and Courtney Lawes.

The Dragons back row forward, who started in France and came off the bench in Italy after being sidelined by a December concussion, is the perfect man for the job according to Richard Hibbard, who headed to Rodney Parade from Gloucester with the 24-year-old last summer.

Western Telegraph:

"Everybody asked whether Ross would be match-fit but he proved everybody wrong against France," said the hooker, who won 38 caps and was a series winner in Australia with the Lions in 2013.

"The bloke is a machine and to not just come back and play the full 80 minutes but to play the way he did was so impressive and speaks volumes about him.

"The guy is so raw and aggressive, he will not take a backward step, he doesn't care who is in front of him. I love that about the bloke.

"If you look at the England team they have played every game on the front foot and the key is stopping their momentum, stopping them from playing the game that they want to impose.

"People like Ross are key to that. He will be one of our main bruisers and I have no doubt that he is definitely up for it."

Moriarty is joined in the XV by Dragons captain Cory Hill, who starts ahead of Adam Beard at lock, while hooker Elliot Dee and flanker Aaron Wainwright are among the replacements.

England are slight favourites but Hibbard believes it will be Wales chasing the title and a first win against the old enemy in Cardiff since he was at the heart of the front row in the famous 30-3 triumph in 2013.

Western Telegraph:

"I really believe in the boys and feel they will get the result," said Hibbard, who will captain the Dragons in Treviso tomorrow in the absence of Hill.

"I remember the bumps and bruises (from 2013). You could feel the atmosphere in the stadium before the game and it was electric during it.

"I've never played in an atmosphere like that. It was unreal and to get the result that we did was berserk.

"I remember how fast the game was. I was thinking that there had to at least be 30 minutes gone, I was absolutely blowing, but looked at the clock and there was 12 minutes gone! I thought that I would never last!

"It was one of those games that was so intense and physical. It was great to be involved in."