Full back Angus O’Brien captains Dragons RFC for the first time in the BKT United Rugby Championship derby clash against Cardiff Rugby on Saturday (kick-off 5.15pm).
Interim Head Coach Filo Tiatia names his first starting line-up for encounter at Cardiff Arms Park and it features six changes to the side that faced Connacht last time out.
O’Brien moves to full back as Lloyd Evans returns at fly half while there is also a call-up for Wales international Rhodri Williams after his Autumn Nations Series exploits.
Wing Jared Rosser is the other change in the back line as he lines up on the opposite flank to Rio Dyer.
Argentina international Rodrigo Martinez is named up front while lock George Nott is fit to return in the second row. The final change is a return for Taine Basham at seven.
Scrum half Morgan Lloyd, lock Joe Davies and prop Dmitri Arhip could make their first appearances of the season from the bench where they are joined by full back Huw Anderson.
Tiatia said: “Local derby games are special. I remember facing Cardiff when I played for the Ospreys, and they're special games. Players have an opportunity to face a local rival just up the road, so it’s exciting.
“Cardiff are a good team, but there is an opportunity this weekend to play at our best.
“In the first block there were games when we had an opportunity to make a statement and win and it came down to narrow margins. We gave the opportunity to the other teams to take it instead,” he added.
“Every game it's trying to improve on the craft, challenging, demanding more from each other. We're looking forward to the games coming up.”
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (c), Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, George Nott, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: James Benjamin, Aki Seiuli, Dmitri Arhip, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Morgan Lloyd, Harry Wilson, Huw Anderson
Unavailable (11): Leon Brown (knock), Ben Carter (knee), Steve Cummins (knock), Elliot Dee (ankle), Solomone Funaki (knee), Ollie Griffiths (unavailable), Rhodri Jones (knee), Harri Keddie (knock), Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (ankle), George Young (knee), Jordan Williams (hip)
ocal derby games are special. I remember facing Cardiff when I played for the Ospreys, and they're special games. Players have an opportunity to face a local rival just up the road, so it’s exciting.
