Leicester Tigers prop Boris Stankovich says Newport Gwent Dragons will represent a bigger threat than South Africa when they arrive at Welford Road on Saturday.

The 29-year-old loose head had "one of the highlights of his career" last Friday, helping to dismantle a Springbok scrum laced with international experience.

Compared to the big names in the world champions' side, the Welsh region arrive at Welford Road in the LV= Cup as virtual unknowns.

Stankovich believes that makes them a very threatening prospect indeed.

"They will probably be more dangerous than South Africa," he said. "Nobody knows a lot about them but they are doing really well in the Magners League.

"We had nothing to lose against South Africa but we will start as favourites against Newport and they will be wanting to knock us off our perch.

"It will probably make their season if they come up here and beat Leicester.

"I am sure they would love to do that but we will be ready."

If Stankovich can reproduce the sort of form which caused such a stir last Friday night, Newport could be in for a long afternoon.

Along with tight head Martin Castrogiovanni and hooker Mefin Davies, the Leicester front row took the likes of Guthro Steenkamp, Janie du Plessis and skipper Chiliboy Ralepelle to the cleaners.

Stankovich revealed that it was supposed to be a night he would play little part in.

"Marcos Ayerza pulled out with a hamstring problem and I got a call from Richard Cockerill on the morning of the game telling me I was playing," he said.

"I was quite happy to get a shot at the South Africans to see where I was in terms of ability.

"The whole of their front five were seasoned veterans and a lot of them had just finished the Currie Cup final the week before.

"It was a friendly but it was not a problem getting up for the game. I could sense the guys were switched on when I walked into the changing room.

"Even the young boys were champing at the bit to get at them.

"It was a very relaxed mood compared to a Guinness Premiership or Heineken Cup game.

"Maybe that worked in our favour because we knew that we had nothing to lose. We went out there as underdogs for the first time in a while.

"The first scrum was a big one and I knew after that, that we were in the game. The weight was coming through nicely.

"We had an excellent hit on that first scrum. You can always tell from the first scrum.

"It's more than just a scrum, it's a psychological blow because they are then trying to catch up with you.

"It was a great occasion and something I really relished, especially with the scrum going the way it was.

"I would say it was right up there with the highlights of my career."

Leicester Tigers Academy suffered a first defeat of the season when they lost 20-6 to Cardiff at Oval Park.

George Ford scored the Tigers points with two first-half penalties.

The Academy are back in action on Saturday when they take on Nottingham at Oval Park (12.0).