Hooker Richard Hibbard will captain Dragons as they face Zebre in the Guinness PRO14 at Rodney Parade on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 5.15pm).
Hibbard returns to the starting line-up for the Men of Gwent and leads a team that shows eight changes from the side that defeated Enisei-STM in Europe last week.
Former Wales international Hibbard is joined by recalled prop Brok Harris up front, as they pack down with Lloyd Fairbrother.
Lock Joe Davies is back to partner Matthew Screech in the second row while Harrison Keddie makes his comeback at Number Eight and Huw Taylor is recalled in the six jersey.
Centres Adam Warren and Jack Dixon combine in midfield while the final change is a return for wing Owen Jenkins.
Will Talbot-Davies moves to full back with Jordan Williams missing the game through injury.
Back row Taine Basham – who has scored six tries in eight games this season – takes the seven spot after spending the week in the Wales international set-up.
Dean Ryan, Director of Dragons Rugby, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for a number of players against Zebre this weekend.
“We have players away with Wales, which is where we want to be as a region, and the group that is here now need to step it up.
“We’ve can’t just be reliant on the eight players who have been away. If we don’t deal with it, we are never going to move forward.
“It’s a fantastic chance for us to see how we cope and how we can grow with some of our more experienced players away on international duty.”
Dragons (v Zebre Rugby): Will Talbot-Davies, Dafydd Howells, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Owen Jenkins, Arwel Robson, Tavis Knoyle; Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard (c), Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Huw Taylor, Taine Basham, Harrison Keddie
Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Josh Reynolds, Aaron Jarvis, Max Williams, Ben Fry, Rhodri Williams, Jacob Botica, Tyler Morgan
Tickets remain on sale NOW from the Ticket Office on 01633 674990 at Rodney Parade and online by clicking HERE - take advantage of Early Bird discounts that run until midnight on Friday.
It’s a fantastic chance for us to see how we cope and how we can grow with some of our more experienced players away on international duty...
