DOMINIC Day has warned Bath to be braced for a fiery reception at Rodney Parade as they try to wrap up progress to the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter finals against Newport Gwent Dragons tomorrow (2.30pm).

Victory in Newport would book Bath’s place in the last eight ahead of the final pool match against Bordeaux-Begles next Thursday, but the Dragons themselves still harbour outside hopes of qualification and the mere presence of English visitors will be enough to ensure a tough examination.

Day, who made more than 100 appearances for the Scarlets before joining Bath in 2012, said: “I remember from playing at Scarlets, it was always a big week whenever you were playing an English side because there is that rivalry between Wales and England. Especially as we’re going so well, they will go in there trying to get a big scalp.

“They’re still in the running in the Amlin and we desperately need the win.

“Lyn Jones is there coaching and he’s a quality coach. They’ve got a lot of ambition and they’re signing some quality players (the signings of Wales internationals Lee Byrne and Aled Brew were announced this week) as well.

“I think the Dragons, they just get involved around the breakdown and make it hard for you.

“They haven’t really got any superstars in their team but they play well together and have got a game plan.

“We’ve got to go there and try to overcome everything they do, try to get our set piece working and give our backs a platform to do what they did last week (against Leicester).

“We know what we’ve got to do. Not many people go to Rodney Parade and win and it may be scrappy at times, but we’ve got to win.’’

With the Aviva Premiership taking a break until next month, Bath can focus on progress in cup competitions, with places in the knockout stages of both the Amlin and LV= cups very much within reach.

Day said: “We’ve got the chance, over the next month or so to get into a couple of quarter-finals and semi-finals.

“We’ve started well in both the LV= (Cup) and the Amlin and we just need to push on now to the next stage because it’s another chance to get some silverware.”

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