Wales ace Cai Evans returns to the starting line-up while international team-mates Elliot Dee and Aaron Wainwright are primed from the bench as Dragons RFC face Vodacom Bulls in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday evening (kick-off 7.35pm).
Evans is straight into match action as Head Coach Dai Flanagan makes five changes to his starting line-up for the encounter at Rodney Parade.
Prop Rhodri Jones is set to make his 150th appearance in the league after making his return up front. Combative hooker Brodie Coghlan also gets a first start of the season.
Lock George Nott is back in the final change to the home pack. Ben Carter set for welcome return from bench.
Scrum half Rhodri Williams is back to partner Will Reed while Wales international Evans is recalled at full back.
Dee and Wainwright are named among the replacements for the home fixture.
Boss Dai Flanagan said: “We face a Bulls side who are an unbelievable team and are one of the favourites for the league, so we know the challenge we are facing.
“They've got a style of play that all 15 players buy into. They've got size, speed, skill set - they're a formidable test.
“We’ve got to match them in all aspects of the game and capitalise on opportunities, which we haven't always done this season.
“We’re looking forward to getting back to Rodney Parade. We’ve been decent at home, have won three of the last four, and we want to put on a show and get people excited in Gwent again.”
Dragons RFC: Cai Evans, Ewan Rosser, Joe Westwood, Steff Hughes (c), Corey Baldwin, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Sean Lonsdale, Taine Basham
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rodrigo Martinez, Luke Yendle, Ben Carter, Harri Keddie, Aaron Wainwright, Dane Blacker, Jared Rosser
Unavailable (16): Harri Ackerman (leg), Oli Andrew (hamstring), Gonzalo Bertranou (wrist), Leon Brown (knock), Jack Dixon (knock), Nathan Evans (knock), Lloyd Fairbrother (calf), Ollie Griffiths (elbow), Ashton Hewitt (knee), Barny Langton-Cryer (knee), Angus O’Brien (arm), Sio Tomkinson (neck), Bradley Roberts (back), Jordan Williams (back), Ryan Woodman (thumb), George Young (pec)
We’re looking forward to getting back to Rodney Parade. We’ve been decent at home, have won three of the last four, and we want to put on a show and get people excited in Gwent again...
