Back row ace Taine Basham will make his first start of the season as Dragons RFC face Hollywoodbets Sharks in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 5.15pm).
Basham is one of eight changes made by Head Coach Dai Flanagan as the Men of Gwent look to make it successive victories on home soil in the league.
Props Rhodri Jones and Leon Brown return in the front row while there is a recall for lock Matthew Screech.
Basham plays at openside with Dan Lydiate named at Number Eight and Shane Lewis-Hughes moved to blindside.
Scrum half Rhodri Williams is given his first start of the season as he is paired with Lloyd Evans at half back.
Fit-again full back Angus O’Brien is named in the 15 jersey and the final change is a call-up for Aneurin Owen at inside centre.
Hooker Oli Burrows could make his first league appearance at Rodney Parade from the bench while lock Joe Davies and fly half Will Reed are also primed as changes to the replacements.
Flanagan said: “We know what we are facing. I was super impressed with the way the Sharks played in the first half in Connacht. They were big, physical, and really connected in how they want to play.
“Connacht were superb in the second half, but Sharks are still the best team in South Africa now, having won the Currie Cup.
“Of all the teams travelling to us in the next two weeks, we have the two finalists from the Currie Cup. But what an opportunity for us to show if we have developed or not.
“Our depth is really important and our bench have a critical part to play," he added. “If you look at the Ospreys game, our bench won us the game, and we need more of that. It’s 23-man game, not 15 man, and we need everyone to perform.”
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown, Ben Carter (c), Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Joe Westwood
Unavailable (16): Harri Ackerman (leg), Dmitri Arhip (knee), Oli Andrew (hamstring), Steve Cummins (hand), Elliot Dee (ankle), Cai Evans (hamstring), Solomone Funaki (knee), Ollie Griffiths (unavailable), Ashton Hewitt (knee), Che Hope (ankle), Steff Hughes (groin), Harri Keddie (back), Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (ankle), George Nott (shoulder), Aaron Wainwright (hamstring), Jordan Williams (ankle)
I was super impressed with the way the Sharks played in the first half in Connacht. They were big, physical, and really connected in how they want to play...
