The 28-year-old is one of six personnel changes and two positional changes that have been made to the team that played against Edinburgh in the European Challenge Cup Semi-Finals.
Director of rugby Lyn Jones has made a change at fullback as Geraint Rhys Jones steps into the back three alongside unchanged wings Tom Prydie and Hallam Amos. The centre pairing of Tyler Morgan and Jack Dixon remains unchanged from the Edinburgh clash last weekend. Fly half Dorian Jones, who was successful at every goal kick last weekend, retains his position alongside scrumhalf Jonathan Evans.
The front row has two changes and one positional change made to it; Brok Harris moves across to tight head prop as Phil Price is named as loose head alongside hooker Rhys Buckley, who joins them in the front row. The second row takes on a different shape as two changes are made to it with youngster Matthew Screech joining skipper Rynard Landman. Flanker James Thomas moves from the second row to the back row to replace Nick Crosswell, who moves to the bench. He joins flanker James Benjamin and Welsh International number eight Taulupe Faletau in the back row.
The replacements bench sees five changes as T. Rhys Thomas, Luke Garrett, Nick Crosswell, Ollie Griffiths and Carl Meyer join Lloyd Fairbrother, Luc Jones and Ashton Hewitt.
Newport Gwent Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones commented: “We’ve tried not to look back at Edinburgh too much. We play them again in a fortnight’s time and the big plus for us is that we play at the Millennium Stadium this week and we play Edinburgh again the week after.
“After the poor performance we had last week you can’t ask for two better fixtures for the players and for all of us.”
He added: “There’s no need for any coach to motivate the players for the next two games – to play at the Millennium Stadium and then Edinburgh again.
“We’re lucky to get a chance to refocus this week and to play in the Millennium Stadium in front of 50,000 people. The boys will be up for it.
“There are a lot of Welsh boys in our team and a lot of them will be looking to put their hand up I’m sure, thinking they’ve got an outside chance of inclusion in the Wales squad. But we’ve got to rise to it and the players have an opportunity to show what they can do. It should be a great day for Welsh rugby.”
Dragons team to face Scarlets
Geraint Rhys Jones, Tom Prydie, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos, Dorian Jones, Jonathan Evans; Phil Price, Rhys Buckley, Brok Harris, Matthew Screech, Rynard Landman (c), James Thomas, James Benjamin, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: T. Rhys Thomas, Luke Garrett, Lloyd Fairbrother, Nick Crosswell, Ollie Griffiths, Luc Jones, Carl Meyer, Ashton Hewitt.
