Back row dynamo Harri Keddie and Wales international trio Aaron Wainwright, Elliot Dee and Rhodri Williams return as Dragons RFC face Ulster Rugby in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade on Saturday evening (kick-off 5.15pm).
Keddie – who recently signed a new long-term contract with the Men of Gwent – makes his first appearance for the club since October as part of six changes made by Head Coach Filo Tiatia.
A new-look back row sees Keddie – who also makes his 100th URC appearance - pack down at openside with Wainwright at Number Eight and Shane Lewis-Hughes at blindside flanker.
Hooker Elliot Dee is back up front alongside Rodrigo Martinez while there is also a return for lock Matthew Screech, who partners George Nott in the second row.
Scrum half Rhodri Williams is the only change to the back line.
Fly half Josh Thomas, who has linked up with the club until the end of the season, could make his club debut off the bench where he is joined by the recalled Jared Rosser.
Filo Tiatia said: “We’re looking forward to the game against Ulster. They are a good team, so we are looking forward to the challenge on Saturday night.
“Ulster have a good set piece with big ball carriers like (Stuart) McCloskey. They have threats across the park so it will be a test.
“We’ve lost a lot of players since the first game with the Ospreys,” he added.
“It is totally different to what we’ve been playing the last six or seven weeks.
“It’s given opportunities to some of the players at this level. Some have never played at this level, so they got exposed a bit earlier, which is not a bad thing, but we have opportunities to keep growing.”
Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson, Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (CAPT), Ashton Hewitt, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, George Nott, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harrison Keddie, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Steve Cummins, Taine Basham, Dane Blacker, Josh Thomas, Jared Rosser
Unavailable (15): Harri Ackerman (arm), Dmitri Arhip (knee), Oli Burrows (shoulder), Ben Carter (knee), Cai Evans (leg), Lloyd Evans (leg), Harri Ford (ankle), Solomone Funaki (knee), Rhodri Jones (leg), Barny Langton-Cryer (leg), Angus O’Brien (hand), Josh Reynolds (shoulder), Luke Yendle (knee), Jordan Williams (leg), Ryan Woodman (arm)
We’re looking forward to the game against Ulster. They are a good team, so we are looking forward to the challenge on Saturday night...
