NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are happy to be copycats in the build-up to their Guinness Pro12 opener at Ulster, taking a leaf out of the book of a European heavyweight.

The Dragons head to Belfast on the back of a 32-16 defeat to last season's Aviva Premiership runners-up Exeter in their final friendly.

Kingsley Jones' men played some enterprising rugby in what was a keenly-contested tune-up until the Chiefs stretched clear in the final quarter.

The Rodney Parade side have pledged to play a more expansive style this season after having the Pro12's worst try count in 2015/16 and after being outscored by five to one, will attempt to emulate last weekend's guests from Devon.

"Some of their attack was pretty good and put us in trouble," said hooker Rhys Thomas. "We spoke in the changing room afterwards and said that we won't be too proud to try and copy it.

"All credit to Exeter, they caused us problems. Their forwards are very intelligent carriers and sacrifice gain line for a bit of width.

"We wanted to test ourselves against one of the better teams in Europe and while we took a lot of things from our game, we will also take a lot from theirs."

The Dragons have won just once at Kingspan Stadium – when it was called Ravenhill in 2008 – and suffered an agonising defeat in Ireland last season when beaten 17-15 after Paddy Jackson's penalty at the death.

Jones' side lost all 11 games away from Newport last year but vice-captain Thomas believes they can trouble their hosts, who lost at Leinster in the semi-finals last season.

"The pressure is on Ulster. Not many will be giving us a chance but our pre-season performances show that we can go out there and cause them a few problems," said the former Wales front rower.

"We go out there as underdogs and if we impose our new pattern of play, put a performance in the scoreboard will look after itself.

"Maybe we need to control the tempo a bit more (than against Cardiff Blues and Exeter in pre-season) and slow things down in certain areas, because we can't go there and play sevens."