NEWPORT Gwent Dragons and European champions Toulon were the only sides that Glasgow failed to beat last season and the Rodney Parade region will have to be at their tenacious best if they are to stun the Warriors this afternoon.

Glasgow were turned over 23-8 at Scotstoun last November and were then edged out 24-23 in Newport in February.

It was a remarkable turnaround given that the Warriors had run in 13 tries and racked up 97 points in the corresponding fixtures in 2012/13.

Openside Nic Cudd knows that the hosts will need to be on top of their defensive game if they are to repeat their heroics of last season in front of the Sky Sports cameras (kick-off 2.40pm).

While the Dragons are down to the bare bones in the backs, the Warriors are buoyant after opening their Guinness Pro12 campaign with victories against champions Leinster and Cardiff Blues, who they beat 33-12 at BT Sport Arms Park last Sunday.

"Glasgow have been a good team for two or three years now," said the 25-year-old flanker. "They have got a good attacking game and like to spread the ball.

"They like to keep the ball moving and create line breaks from their offloads and they have some dangerous runners.

"They are also good in defence with an aggressive line and were particularly good against the Blues in the tackle area last Sunday.

"They committed a fair few to the breakdown when they needed to and got turnovers and penalties from that area. That's something we will need to combat."

The Warriors have made a strong start to the season and are second favourites behind champions Leinster to lift the Pro12 trophy aloft come May.

"Glasgow are a formidable side," said Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones. "I don't think that they have reached their peak and I think they could sneak the title this season.

"We know how good they are and they will want to prove something from last year (after being doubled by the Dragons).

"We have to deal with Josh Strauss and Niko Matawalu, two individuals that make them tick, but there are 13 other very good players as well."

Glasgow have made nine changes to the XV that took to the field in the capital on Sunday with Lions full-back Stuart Hogg, Scotland tighthead Euan Murray and Fijian lock Leone Nakarawa notable inclusions.

Dragons: H Amos, T Prydie, B John, D Jones, A Brew, A O'Brien, R Rees, B Stankovich, R Thomas, L Fairbrother, C Hill, R Landman, L Evans, N Cudd, T Faletau. Replacements: E Dee, H Gustafson, D Way, M Screech, A Powell, L Jones, A Hewitt, B Nightingale.

Glasgow: S Hogg, T Seymour, A Dunbar, P Horne, DTH van der Merwe, D Weir, N Matawalu, G Reid, K Bryce, E Murray, T Swinson, L Nakarawa, R Harley, T Holmes, J Strauss (captain). Replacements: F Brown, A Allan, R de Klerk, J Eddie, C Fusaro, A Ashe, H Pyrgos, L Jones.

Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)