After a three-week break Newport Gwent Dragons are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Sixways for their final EDF Energy Cup Pool match against Worcester (3pm).
Colin Charvis leads the region for the fourth time this season in the absence of Kevin Morgan who is rested following his involvement with the Welsh autumn matches.
The Dragons and fellow European Challenge Cup competitors Worcester have met on only one occasion before in last season's Powergen Cup competition and The Dragons won 33-10. In this seasons tournament The Dragons fortunes have been mixed, following a defeat at Welford Road The Dragons beat Northampton 26-7 in a comprehensive display at Rodney Parade.
Looking ahead to Saturday's game Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner said, "While we cannot qualify for the next stage of the EDF Energy Cup competition Saturday's game offers us an opportunity to test ourselves against a very physical Guinness Premiership side. We will use the game to prepare for our double header with Bucuresti. Worcester have somewhat made a start to turning their season around with a huge victory at Saracens last Sunday and you really have to take your hat off to Worcester, a club which many would say was unfashionable but have come right through the leagues under the tremendous guidance of owner Cecil Duckworth. After a traumatic week following defeat to Harlequins they dug deep at Vicarage Road after being 17-3 down and showed tremendous resolve and a huge amount of game control to beat one of the in-form sides in the Guinness Premiership on their home patch. A real feather in their cap is that anyone who has not visited Sixways will be amazed at how far they've come in a short space of time, it's a yard stick for all of us to follow. As for The Dragons we are looking to go toe-to-toe with a very powerful Guinness Premiership side, we will continue our policy of trying to bring some of our academy and younger squad members through in this competition but are well aware that we need to put things into place for our forthcoming European Challenge Cup games and a heavy Christmas programme which sees us play the three Welsh regions."
Last time out The Dragons staged a dramatic comeback against Edinburgh to clinch a 17-10 win and have made a total of five changes to the team that won that night. Gareth Wyatt moves to fullback in place of Aled Thomas who is currently away with the Welsh 7s squad and Richard Fussell comes in on the right wing. Newport centre Scott Williams makes his second appearance of the season in a Dragons shirt coming in for Ashley Smith. Among the forwards Ben Daly replaces Kieran Crawford at hooker while academy member Jamie Corsi replaces Lee Harrison in his fourth appearance for The Dragons. Joining Corsi is fellow academy member Lewis Evans who makes his first ever start for The Dragons replacing Joe Bearman at blindside flanker who has an injured hip.
18-year old prop Jamie Corsi makes his second start for the region and on the challenge Worcester will pose said, "We are expecting a big, physical challenge on Saturday afternoon. They possess a well-disciplined pack of forwards and they go through the phases well. It will be a step up in terms of intensity for us which is what we need ahead of our next round of European Challenge Cup games. From a personal point of view it is good to get a start and I am looking forward to measuring myself against what is a strong front row."
Among the replacements Gareth Maule is named following his recovery from a broken leg sustained in The Dragons opening Magners League match against Glasgow in September. Welsh International duo Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Cooper are also among the replacements following their month with the Welsh squad.
Dragons Starting XV
Gareth Wyatt, Richard Fussell, Nathan Brew, Scott Williams, Aled Brew, Mike Hercus, Alex Walker, Adam Black, Ben Daly, Jamie Corsi, Andrew Hall, Luke Charteris, Lewis Evans, Jamie Ringer, Colin Charvis (C)
Replacements
Kieran Crawford, Lee Harrison, Bryn Griffiths, Nic Fitisemanu, Gareth Maule, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Cooper.
