Wales international and club captain Ben Carter returns as Dragons RFC face DHL Stormers in the BKT United Rugby Championship at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 5.15pm UK).
Second row Carter is one of three changes made by Head Coach Filo Tiatia for the penultimate league fixture of the season as the Men of Gwent prepare for action in South Africa.
There are two changes in the back line as full back Huw Anderson and centre Harry Wilson both make playing returns.
Back row Dan Lydiate makes his 150th league appearance in the URC.
Fly half Lloyd Evans is named among the replacements, alongside recalled hooker James Benjamin, prop Paula Latu, scrum half Dane Blacker and wing Ashton Hewitt.
Tiatia said: “We’re happy to be in South Africa and we are under no illusion to the challenge against a very good Stormers side.
“They are pretty good at getting gain line, second in those league stats, so they like to play.
“We are trying to build two weeks of bringing some clear identity of how we want to finish and how we want to play,” he added.
“This group is also not going to be the same moving to next season, so it is important that the players finish strong, and we control what we can control, which is our preparation to help with performance.
“The players have galvanised after a couple of disappointing results. To come over here and play in Cape Town against a good Stormers side is a good challenge."
Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson; Harry Rees-Weldon, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Angus O’Brien (cc), Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (cc), Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Joe Davies, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dane Blacker, Lloyd Evans, Ashton Hewitt
Unavailable (18): Harri Ackerman (arm), Dmitri Arhip (knee), Taine Basham (leg), Oli Burrows (shoulder), Steve Cummins (arm), Elliot Dee (personal), Rio Dyer (ankle), Cai Evans (leg), Solomone Funaki (knee), Harrison Keddie (leg), Rodrigo Martinez (leg), George Nott (knee), Josh Reynolds (shoulder), Sam Scarfe (shoulder), Matthew Screech (knock), Josh Thomas (leg), Scott Williams (leg), Luke Yendle (knee)
The players have galvanised after a couple of disappointing results. To come over here and play in Cape Town against a good Stormers side is a good challenge...
