Head Coach Dai Flanagan has vowed to be patient with Wales Under-20s captain Ryan Woodman when he returns from his exploits at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
Woodman will lead his country in the tournament in South Africa with Wales kicking off against New Zealand on Saturday before group stage clashes with Japan and France.
The 19-year-old skippered Wales in the Six Nations after making his Dragons debut off the bench against Section Paloise in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The Caldicot ace also appeared as a replacement against Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
And Flanagan has plans on how he will further integrate him into the senior set-up at Ystrad Mynach.
“Ryan has played a lot of rugby so at some stage after this World Cup he will need a big development phase,” said Flanagan.
“That's not to say he won’t play another 25 games next season, but the U20 Championship, after players have gone to South Africa as under-18s, can mean players roll from season to season.
“A break is important and when Ryan comes back there will be a rest period and then his development will take priority - let’s not forget that he has another season with the 20s.
“The regional game is built for different athletes and that is one thing we need to make sure we get Ryan ready for.
“He showed the potential that he has when he was excellent again Pau, playing well in the channels.”
Dragons have six players in South Africa with Woodman joined by prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, hooker Sam Scarfe, scrum-half Che Hope, centre Joe Westwood and wing/full-back Huw Anderson.
Centre Harri Ackerman and wing Oli Andrew miss out through shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively.
“Dylan and Scarfey will come into the senior group when they return and it will be good to have a first look at them,” said Flanagan.
“Joe trained with us all last year and, when fit, you could see how good he was with Newport in the Premiership.
“It’s a shame for Ackerman that he misses out through injury, but it shows how tough he is that he dislocated a shoulder in the Premiership Cup final for Newport and carried on.
“Che has shown what he can do in flashes. I hope he gets plenty of game time in South Africa while Huw should develop from competing with Cam Winnett after improving thanks to playing with Pontypool.”
