Centre Jamie Roberts returns to the starting line-up as Dragons face Ospreys in the Guinness PRO14 at Rodney Parade on Saturday evening (kick-off 5.15pm).
Roberts missed the derby clash with Scarlets on New Year’s Day but makes his comeback for the first game of the year on home soil as boss Dean Ryan makes five changes to his side.
Wing Jared Rosser is also back in the side with Owen Jenkins moving to full back.
Lock Joe Davies is recalled to partner Matthew Screech in the second row while there is also a start for hooker Richard Hibbard against his former region.
The final change is a call-up for back row Huw Taylor who starts his first Guinness PRO14 fixture of the season.
Changes among the replacements include the return of vastly experienced forward Lewis Evans and fly half Arwel Robson.
Looking towards the final derby game of the festive period, Ryan said: “We are targeting a win after what has been a challenging five or six weeks for the group with disruption and changes.
“I believe in life if you keep working hard then somewhere along the line you get rewarded for it. I would love to get that through a win at Rodney Parade this weekend.
“We know the size of the challenge we are going to face,” he added. “Ospreys, under Toby Booth, are a very different side to what we faced back in August and we will need to produce an 80-minute performance to get the result we all want.
“We had two late wins in the derbies last season, and they were all pretty tight games, while this season we have been on the wrong end of some close games.
"I think it will again come down to some fine margins and we need to control those key moments better. That will be crucial this weekend.”
Dragons (v Ospreys): Owen Jenkins, Jared Rosser, Nick Tompkins, Jamie Roberts, Ashton Hewitt, Josh Lewis, Tavis Knoyle; Brok Harris, Richard Hibbard, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Huw Taylor, Harrison Keddie (c), Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Aaron Jarvis, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ben Carter, Lewis Evans, Rhodri Williams, Arwel Robson, Jack Dixon
I believe in life if you keep working hard then somewhere along the line you get rewarded for it... I would love to get that through a win at Rodney Parade this weekend...
