Wales international duo Aaron Wainwright and Elliot Dee return to action for Dragons as they face Worcester Warriors in the European Challenge Cup at Sixways Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Back row Wainwright starts his first game for the region since the Rugby World Cup at the home of the English Premiership side while Dee is named among the replacements.
Director of Dragons Rugby, Dean Ryan, makes eight changes to the starting line-up as the Men of Gwent look to maintain top spot in Pool 1 of the European competition.
Flanker Ollie Griffiths, prop Leon Brown and Sam Davies all make returns after featuring for Wales in the clash with the Barbarians.
Wing Ashton Hewitt is back out wide while centre pair Tyler Morgan and Tom Griffiths combine in midfield.
Scrum half Rhodri Williams also returns to lead the team in the West Midlands against a team Ryan knows well, having been Director of Rugby at Worcester between 2013 and 2016.
“It’s crucial that we get some momentum, get our best Wales players back in the mix over the next couple of weeks and put ourselves in a strong position,” said Ryan.
“I’m expecting to face a well organised and strong Worcester side which has gained some confidence from the position they find themselves in the English Premiership.
“I don’t think these two games will decide the pool - but they will set you up and decide whether you have to do something at Castres at the back end of the competition.
“We’ve got to get something out of the next couple of weeks. If we do that we can put ourselves in a strong position to push on from the group.”
Dragons: Will Talbot-Davies, Owen Jenkins, Tyler Morgan, Tom Griffiths, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Aaron Wainwright, Ollie Griffiths, Taine Basham
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Josh Reynolds, Aaron Jarvis, Max Williams, Huw Taylor, Luke Baldwin, Jacob Botica, Adam Warren
Worcester: Noah Heward, Chris Pennell, Ollie Lawrence, Ryan Mills, Nick David, Jamie Shillcock, Michael Heaney; Ryan Bower, Matt Moulds, Conor Carey, Andrew Kitchener, Justin Clegg, Tom Dodd, Matt Cox, GJ van Velze
Replacements: Isaac Miller, Kai Owen, Richard Palframan, James Scott, Morgan Monks, Jono Kitto, Gareth Simpson, Callum Morris
We’ve got to get something out of the next couple of weeks. If we do that we can put ourselves in a strong position to push on from the group...
