The last time Dragons made the trip to Parma in February 2025, they were rock-bottom of the URC and lost 31-21.

On paper, not a great deal has changed in 14 months with the Gwent side only one place better off in 15th - but this time around it is Zebre propping up the table.

Tonight's Challenge Cup tie is a welcome distraction for both, but for whoever loses, the chance for revenge will come swiftly. In just 13 days, the sides will meet again at this very venue in a match that could well dictate their final league positions.

Regardless, to win either clash Dragons must improve on their wretched recent record here. Since winning at the Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium in October 2019, otherwise known as 'before lockdown', it's been four straight defeats in northern Italy.

Speaking to S4C, Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said:

"We're looking forward to the game. It's good to be in Parma, it's beautiful weather.

"We've just had a look at the pitch and it looks fast."

On his team selection:

"There's a couple of positions that we had debate about and that coaches challenged.

"We're happy with the selection and we'll go again.

"I saw Zebre did the same, so it'll be a good scrap."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Likewise, Zebre coach Massimo Brunello has also stuck with the mantra of 'don't change a winning team'.

His starting XV is unchanged from the victory over Pau, with club legend Leonard Krumov again leading the side from second row.

Welsh fans may also recall the names of starting forwards Tomasso Di Bartolomeo and David Odiase, plus replacement scrum-half Alessandro Fusco - who all featured in Italy's Six Nations defeat last month in Cardiff. Another Italian international though, full-back Lorenzo Pani, is ruled out.

The only alterations to Zebre's last-16 clash come on the bench, with the returning Fusco and Roger Martin Farias drafted in.

Zebre: Montemauri; Belloni, Bertaccini, Zanon, Trulla; Da Re, Garcia; Hasa, Di Bartolomeo, Neculai, Canali, Krumov (capt), Ortombina, Stavile, Odiase.

Replacements: Quattrini, Franceschetto, Pitinari, Ferrari, Licata, Fusco, Mazza, Locatelli.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Unsurprisingly, Filo Tiatia has opted to keep faith in the squad that pulled off that win epic win in Paris, with the exception of one enforced change.

Lock Levi Douglas misses out after being forced off with a head injury in that game.

Subsequently, Ryan Woodman moves from flanker to lock, with Harrison Keddie coming into the back row and Shane Lewis-Hughes named as a replacement. The 29-yer-old will pack down at blindside flanker alongside Thomas Young and Aaron Wainwright.

As for Wainwright, away fans will be desperately hoping this doesn't prove to be the final European game the number eight plays in Dragons colours.

Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Armstrong; Martinez, Coghlan, Coleman, Woodman, Carter (co-capt), Keddie, Young, Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, W Jones, James, S Davies, Lewis-Hughes, M Lloyd, Paea, Anderson.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

And then there was one.

Scarlets fell short in the group stages of the Champions Cup, while both Cardiff Rugby and Ospreys can reflect on agonising finishes last week which ended their Challenge Cup campaigns.

But rewind back to pre-season, and very few would have predicted that come the quarter-final stages in Europe the sole survivors in Wales would be Dragons.

That is the exact scenario, however, after their remarkable comeback win in Stade Francais last Sunday. And tonight, against a Zebre side who equally defied the odds to down Pau six days ago, Filo Tiatia's are eyeing a huge opportunity to make the semi-final stages of this competition for the first time.

With that in mind, let's look at the team news, and arguably the most important line-up Tiatia has named in his tenure...