Back row tyros Harri Keddie and Harry Beddall win call ups to the starting line-up as Dragons RFC face Scarlets Rugby in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade on New Year’s Day (kick-off 3pm).
Head Coach Filo Tiatia makes four changes to the side narrowly beaten by Cardiff and reshapes his back row with the two call-ups named alongside Wales international ace Aaron Wainwright.
Fit-again hooker Oli Burrows also returns up front while there is a positional change for Ryan Woodman who moves into the second row.
The final change comes in the back division where there is a recall for David Richards on the wing.
Prop Wyn Jones could make his 100th appearance in the URC from the replacements bench where there are also returns for Joe Westwood and Ewan Rosser.
Head Coach Tiatia said: “Scarlets are a good side. Some of their results haven’t gone their way and they will be disappointed to lose to Ospreys on Boxing Day. They will be looking at areas to exploit.
“In terms of our preparation, nothing changes around my mentality and how we prepare the group. That is my job and their job is make sure that they action what we say we are going to do and adapt in moments.
“It’s an important time, particularly with where we are at in the ladder with Scarlets, how we keep improving and how we move forward.
“It is tight where we are in table and if you pick up wins you can quickly move up the ladder. The ambition for both sides is to keep improving and keep shifting forward.”
“It’s set to be a huge crowd at Rodney Parade, so we need to embrace the atmosphere and look to build on the performances and what we have achieved on home soil in recent games.”
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (cc), David Richards, Fine Inisi, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer, Tinus de Beer, Che Hope; Rodrigo Martinez, Oli Burrows, Robert Hunt, Ryan Woodman, Ben Carter (cc), Harri Keddie, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: George Roberts, Wyn Jones, Cebo Dlamini, Levi Douglas, Thomas Young, Rhodri Williams, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser
Unavailable: James Benjamin, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Elliot Dee, Cai Evans, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Rhodri Jones, Dillon Lewis, Fetuli Paea, Jared Rosser
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