Newport Gwent Dragons take on current Magners League table toppers Leinster on Friday night but will be without skipper Kevin Morgan who has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Wales U20 cap Martyn Thomas takes over the fullback spot in place of Morgan who should have recovered from his injury in time for The Dragons semi final European Challenge Cup game against Clermont next Saturday.
However, The Dragons have received a massive boost with the news that prop Rhys Thomas is fit and included on the replacements bench for the first time since suffering a chest injury against Northampton last October.
Michael Owen takes over the captains armband and features in a changed back row from the one that started against Edinburgh with Owen moving back to No.8, Colin Charvis switching to blindside flanker and Jamie Ringer coming back in at openside flanker.
The other changes to the pack from last weekend sees Lee Harrison start at tighthead prop and Ian Gough back at lock in place of Peter Sidoli.
The other change comes at centre with American International Paul Emerick having recovered from his knee injury that forced him to withdraw just before the game in Murrayfield.
On the replacements bench flanker Joe Bearman has recovered from his hip injury that has kept him out of The Dragons squad since New Years Eve.
Dragons Team
Martyn Thomas
Gareth Wyatt
Paul Emerick
Nathan Brew
Aled Brew
Ceri Sweeney
Gareth Cooper
Adam Black
Steve Jones
Lee Harrison
Ian Gough
Luke Charteris
Colin Charvis
Jamie Ringer
Michael Owen (c)
Replacements
Ben Daly
Rhys Thomas
Peter Sidoli
Joe Bearman
Richard Fussell
Aled Thomas
Alex Walker
