Newport Gwent Dragons face a tricky Heineken Cup qualifying play-off this Friday against Cammi Calvisano.
The Italians are experienced European campaigners, having lost twice to the Ospreys in this year's competition.
But Calvisano lost out to Arix Viadana in their league's top four play-off, with Viadana and Benetton Treviso claiming automatic Heineken spots.
The Dragons have home advantage, but last season were beaten by Overmach Parma in a Rodney Parade play-off.
The Rodney Parade side reached the semi-finals of the European second tier Challenge Cup this season, before going out to French powers Clermont Auvergne.
Paul Turner's side are already weakened by injury, with Aled Brew, Richard Fussell, Nathan Brew, Rhys Thomas, Peter Sidoli and Nic Fitisemanu all sidelined.
Captain Kevin Morgan (hamstring) and Colin Charvis (knee) will also undergo fitness tests this week.
Calvisano are skippered by Italy scrum-half Paul Griffen and have a squad full of players capped by the Azzurri.
Fly-half Andrea Scanavacca, full-back Roland de Marigny, wing Matteo Praticheti, number eight Alessandro Zanni and flanker Maurizio Zaffiri all played in this season's Six Nations.
The Dragons are in the play-off after finishing lowest of the four Welsh regions in this season's Magners League.
Meanwhile, the Dragons have signed Wales Under-21 scrum-half Wayne Evans from rival Welsh region the Cardiff Blues. More later....(Friday)
Tags:Newport Gwent Dragons, Newport, Rugby links:http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/home.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Gwent_Dragons
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