GAVIN Henson will return at fly-half for the Dragons Guinness PRO14 clash with Leinster in Dublin, writes Chris Kirwan.

The former Wales and Lions playmaker has not started since the clash with the Ospreys on October 27.

The 35-year-old sat out the losses to Munster and Northampton but came off the bench in last week’s Anglo-Welsh Cup win against the Scarlets in Newport, and will have 10 on his back in the Irish capital.

The Dragons have not won away in the league since March, 2015 but the management are bringing back their first-teamers in a bid to build some momentum for a December in Newport that pits them against Ulster, Enisei-STM, Newcastle, Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys.

Scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, centre Jack Dixon and wing Ashton Hewitt will all return along with promising flanker Aaron Wainwright.

The strong performance from the pack in the second half against the Scarlets will see 20-year-old hooker Ellis Shipp make a first regional start while loosehead Sam Hobbs will be next to him in the front row, his first start since summer knee surgery.

Leinster are without a glut of Ireland internationals but are still red hot favourites to strengthen their grip on a play-off berth in Conference B of the PRO14.

The province won 39-16 when the sides met at Rodney Parade in round one and Adam Warren is expecting a fierce battle.

“It’s a big challenge and there will be patches when we have to ride the storm,” said the centre. “They always raise their intensity when at home.

“Leinster have a big development programme and a ‘second team’ that can beat anyone on their day.

“They have proved that in the past and if you don’t make a good start over there then the intensity goes through the roof and they can blow you away.

“Leinster don’t have weak links individually but we just have to take our tactical game plan to them and be positive. There’s not much pressure on us and they are favourites.

“We’ve had a big patch of away games but we have five home games in December when we really want to put a marker down and show everyone in the league that we are changing and improving. We want to build momentum.”

The Dragons name their squad at midday tomorrow.