Angus O’Brien and Ben Carter return to action as Dragons RFC tackle Scarlets Rugby at Judgement Day in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 5.30pm).
The duo are part of eight changes made by Head Coach Filo Tiatia for the derby clash in the capital.
O’Brien is one of four back line changes with former Scarlet Scott Williams making his first start for the Men of Gwent.
Jared Rosser comes onto the wing, with Rio Dyer missing the game through injury, while Ewan Rosser replaces the injured Huw Anderson at full back.
Carter is back in the second row alongside the fit-again Ryan Woodman while Taine Basham is recalled an openside. Harri Keddie is ruled out with injury.
The final change is a start at loosehead for Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths. Argentine Rodrigo Martinez sits out the capital clash through injury.
Prop duo Chris Coleman and Rhodri Jones are back among the replacements where Dan Lydiate is also called up.
Filo Tiatia said: “Scarlets are a good side and I enjoyed watching both derby games (with Ospreys) back-to-back.
“We’ve had a good look at Scarlets, and we’ve had a reminder of New Year’s Day and some of the areas we weren’t great at, so we are better.
“They are a transitional team, they feed on scraps with good athletes right across the park. They have several overseas players and international experience in that team, so they are a strong side.
“We have back-to-back derby games before we go to Africa. We have some big challenges coming up that we have got to embrace and look forward to.”
Dragons RFC: Ewan Rosser, Ashton Hewitt, Aneurin Owen (CAPT), Scott Williams, Jared Rosser, Angus O’Brien, Rhodri Williams; Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Elliot Dee, Paula Latu, Ben Carter, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Rhodri Jones, Chris Coleman, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dan Lydiate, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Joe Westwood
Unavailable (16): Harri Ackerman (arm), Huw Anderson (leg), Dmitri Arhip (knee), Oli Burrows (shoulder), Rio Dyer (ankle), Cai Evans (leg), Lloyd Evans (leg), Harri Ford (ankle), Solomone Funaki (knee), Harrison Keddie (leg), Rodrigo Martinez (leg), George Nott (knee), Josh Reynolds (shoulder), Sam Scarfe (shoulder), Matthew Screech (knock), Luke Yendle (knee)
