Fly half Jacob Botica and prop Josh Reynolds are both handed their first starts in the Guinness PRO14 as Dragons face Benetton Rugby at Rodney Parade on Friday evening (kick-off 7.35pm).
Reynolds starts at loose-head prop - with Aaron Jarvis ruled out by injury - as Dean Ryan, Director of Dragons Rugby, makes just two changes to the starting line-up that defeated Toyota Cheetahs.
Botica will make his tenth appearance this season, but first start in the league, as he comes in for Sam Davies who was unavailable for selection due to training commitments with Wales.
Wales hooker Elliot Dee returns from international camp to be named among the replacements.
Scrum half Luke Baldwin, Arwel Robson and Connor Edwards are also called into the match day squad.
Prop Conor Maguire, who has joined on a short-term trial, could also make his debut for Dragons from the bench.
“We want to play as we haven’t got into a rhythm after playing two games in really poor weather conditions after five weeks off,” said Ryan.
“We need to continue to play to try and build that rhythm before the final raft of league fixtures. “Benetton are a well organised team with quality players,” he added.
“They contribute a large part to the Italian squad, but they are not the side of previous years where that hurt them so much. They have grown strength in depth.
“They are a powerful side and they have some real innovative thinking around the way they play the game. It will be a huge challenge for us.”
Dragons (v Benetton Rugby): Will Talbot-Davies, Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt, Jacob Botica, Rhodri Williams (c); Josh Reynolds, Ellis Shipp, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Taine Basham, Ollie Griffiths
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Conor Maguire, Chris Coleman, Brandon Nansen, Lewis Evans, Luke Baldwin, Arwel Robson, Connor Edwards
They are a powerful side and they have some real innovative thinking around the way they play the game. It will be a huge challenge for us...
