LEINSTER WILL NEED all of their experience to extend their winning streak against the Dragons tonight.

Matt O’Connor’s side travel to Wales without the bulk of their internationals although prop Martin Moore has been released from Ireland’s November Series camp to make the trip.

Leinster followed up their perfect start in the Heineken Cup with a win against Connacht last weekend and out-half Jimmy Gopperth wants to build on that momentum.

He returns to a back line which features the international experience of Luke Fitzgerald, a fit-again Lote Tuqiri and Springbok debutant Zane Kirchner while Shane Jennings captains the side from the back row.

“It has been good to get a run of three wins on the bounce,” the out-half said, “but each of the players knows that this week we have to step up.

There will be a few new faces and it’s important that we have a few of the experienced heads back because players like Jenno are proven leaders.

We will need to tap into all of our experience in Newport because they’re going to be pumped up themselves having lost to the Ospreys last weekend.

Leinster needed a late penalty try to avoid a shock against Connacht last week and Gopperth knows that there is room for improvement.

“We showed a bit of bottle to hang in there and get the win after being behind for spells against Connacht, but we know that we have to be more clinical at our set-piece and in attack.

Our defensive effort was good and it will need to be better again this week because the Dragons are a team who like to play with a lot of pace out wide.

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