Dragons boss Dean Ryan makes seven changes to his side to take on Scottish rivals Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship at Scotstoun Stadium this Saturday (kick-off 7.35pm).
The Men of Gwent will be hoping to bounce back from last week’s defeat against Edinburgh by making it back-to-back wins against the Warriors on their turf.
Aki Seiuli, Will Rowlands and Aaron Wainwright all return to make their first appearances following international duty.
Ellis Shipp, Leon Brown, Dan Babos and Aneurin Owen all start after being amongst the replacements last week.
Seiuli, Shipp and Brown combine to make up the front row and Rowlands will be partnered by Joe Maksymiw in the second row.
Harri Keddie will continue to captain the side in the six jersey and with the return of Wainwright to number eight, Ollie Griffiths moves to flanker.
Babos gets his first start of the season at scrum half and partners the ever-present Sam Davies at half back.
Jamie Roberts will have a new man outside in him in young Aneurin Owen to form a new centre partnership.
The back three remains unchanged with Rio Dyer, Jonah Holmes and fullback Jordan Williams completing the starting XV.
The bench sees the long-awaited return of scrum half Tavis Knoyle and hooker James Benjamin could also make his first competitive Dragons appearance of the season.
Ryan is expecting a strong challenge from a Glasgow side that will also be eager to bounce back from defeat last time out.
He said: “We played some good stuff last season at Scotstoun, and it was pretty tight up in Scotland, right until the last minute.
“The game down here (at Cardiff City Stadium) was probably one of the more physical challenges we faced – we will be expecting that this time.
“They are a building side as well with a big pack, not what you would traditionally see as Glasgow’s strength.
“They have still got their DNA, in terms of the pace of the game they want to play, but they have certainly created more of a solid foundation too.”
Dragons: Jordan Williams, Jonah Holmes, Aneurin Owen, Jamie Roberts, Rio Dyer, Sam Davies, Dan Babos; Aki Seiuli, Ellis Shipp, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands, Joe Maksymiw, Harri Keddie (c), Ollie Griffiths, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: James Benjamin, Josh Reynolds, Mesake Doge, Joe Davies, Huw Taylor, Tavis Knoyle, Josh Lewis, Adam Warren
