Wales international trio Leon Brown, Bradley Roberts and Aaron Wainwright return as Dragons RFC face Connacht Rugby in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday evening (kick-off 7.35pm).
The Men of Gwent welcome the Irish province to Newport in Round 15 for the final game of the league season at Rodney Parade.
Boss Dai Flanagan makes five changes to his starting line-up with the international trio back in the home pack.
Centre Max Clark is also recalled to partner Steff Hughes in midfield.
The final change is a return for wing Jared Rosser, with Sio Tomkinson unavailable for selection this weekend due to injury.
The replacements include welcome returns for influential hooker Elliot Dee and back row Harrison Keddie. George Nott and Sam Davies are also named.
“There have been some selection headaches this week,” admitted Flanagan.
“We are leaving out some consistent players for us because we have some X-factor back. The pressure is on these guys now to perform.
“Connacht are a good team,” he added. “They recruited well last year; it has given them a lot more depth than they’ve had the last few years. “What I really like about them is they have a got a good brand of rugby.
“They play from everywhere; they are a highly skilled team so they can attack in multiple ways.
“The ten they have, Jack Carty, is a great leader and great game manager around the field.
“Previously coaching against him, he has burnt us a few times with his kicking game so it’s an area we have really got to be on the money.
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Jared Rosser, Steff Hughes, Max Clark Ashton Hewitt, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams (c); Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts, Leon Brown, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, Aaron Wainwright, Taine Basham, Ross Moriarty
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Aki Seiuli, Lloyd Fairbrother, George Nott, Harrison Keddie, Lewis Jones, Sam Davies, Jordan Williams
Unavailable: Gonzalo Bertranou (foot), Joe Davies (knock), Jack Dixon (foot), Ollie Griffiths (pec), Aneurin Owen (knee), Will Rowlands (shoulder), David Richards (hamstring), Sio Tomkinson (neck)
International duty: Rio Dyer (Wales)
We are leaving out some consistent players for us because we have some X-factor back... The pressure is on these guys now to perform...
