Jones playing for his future

The two-times capped Wales forward has restricted to bit-part appearances for the Men of Gwent this season.

After falling behind fellow internationals Luke Charteris, Scott Morgan and Robert Sidoli in the pecking order.

But Jones was handed an unexpected lifeline when both Morgan and Sidoli suffered elbow injuries in the Magners League defeat to Munster.

The 31-year-old will see out the remainder of the season battling Charteris and Adam Brown for a place in the starting line-up.

And Jones is determined to convince the Dragons hierarchy that he is worthy of a new contract at the Rodney Parade outfit.

"I have my own goals and aims to put right so that first and foremost I cement myself back in the team," said Jones.

"Hopefully that will help us climb the table and in doing that strengthen my position in terms of a contract with the Dragons.

"It's been a difficult season and I have been on the outside looking in for most of it. Unfortunately the other three have been a little bit better than me.

"When you are not getting picked it is easy to look at other reasons but the only one to blame is yourself. I was overlooked and I had to review my game.

"No player likes to get back into a squad through injuries to others but I am not going to pass up the opportunity. Now it's up to me to try and take it.

"There's a pressure to perform, but that has been built up through competition for places and nobody wants to be on the outside."

Jones joins Charteris in the boiler-house to make just his second start of the season intonight's Magners League clash with Ulster. He is expecting a full-blooded encounter at Ravenhill but reckons the Dragons are more than capable of claiming a valuable win on the road.

"It's always a big ask at Ravenhill," added Jones. "The support that they get is similar to our backing, it's very vociferous.

"We know what to expect and have done well the last two times we have travelled there, so we go with confidence but also the knowledge that we have to get our own game right to win away."