NEWPORT Gwent Dragons boss Kingsley Jones has challenged fly-half Angus O'Brien to repeat his excellent Rodney Parade performances on the road in Dublin tomorrow evening.

The 22-year-old from Caerleon will pull the strings against Leinster in the Guinness Pro12 (kick-off 7.35pm) after a super display and 17-point haul in last week's 27-19 win against Edinburgh in Newport.

O'Brien has made great strides in recent weeks in the absence of the more experienced Nick Macleod (ankle) and Dorian Jones (groin), helping the Dragons to win four home games on the spin.

He famously announced himself on the scene in the win against Stade Francais in Paris two years ago and head coach Jones wants his playmaker, who had a tricky time last time he started away from home in the loss to Enisei in Russia, to stay on an upward curve at the RDS.

"Angus is doing lots of things well and is playing with confidence," said Jones. "We changed him a little bit last week by putting him at full-back in defence for most of the game and that worked because Carl Meyer is a physical guy and likes defending at 10.

"That can free up Angus to use his kicking game in the back field and also keeps him fresh because I don't want him making 12 tackles.

"He has been excellent in getting the back line going and is developing. The mental challenge for him now is an away game, he is comfortable at home and used to winning but can he now deliver the same performance away."

Jones makes two changes in the backs for Leinster with centre Tyler Morgan coming in for Sam Beard (dead leg) and Adam Warren slotting in on the wing for Ashton Hewitt (bruised hand).

Hooker Elliot Dee, who suffered pre-season ankle ligament damage, makes his first Pro12 start of the season and is joined in the front row by loosehead Phil Price, Rhys Thomas (dead leg) and Sam Hobbs (toe) sitting it out.

Rynard Landman returns from paternity leave in the second row while Nic Cudd gets the nod at openside flanker and Harri Keddie comes in at number eight. Lock Cory Hill returns from his autumn international exploits on the bench.

The Dragons have headed to Ireland in buoyant mood thanks to four Rodney Parade wins on the spin and are looking for only their second win in Dublin while they haven't won on their travels in the Pro12 since turning over Treviso in March, 2015.

"It's nice to have a run of home wins but we need to step up now and try to get that away one," said Jones.

"It will be a massive challenge at Leinster but we've won there before (in February, 2015) and go there with everything to gain and not a lot to lose. There's not a lot of pressure on us and we are going to have a crack.

"Leinster have a great kicking game and we have to be smart there because we weren't great against Edinburgh.

"They are strong on their own scrum, well-coached and are a good team everywhere – whoever steps in does a good job for them."

Fly-half Joey Carbery is the only Leinster player included from Ireland's win against Australia last weekend although James Tracy, Dan Leavy and Luke McGrath are selected after making their Test debuts in November.

Leinster: A Byrne, R O'Loughlin, N Reid, I Nacewa, J Carbery, L McGrath, P Dooley, J Tracy, M Bent, R Molony, H Triggs, R Ruddock, D Leavy, J Conan. Replacements: R Strauss, A Porter, J Loughman, M McCarthy, M Deegan, C Rock, R Byrne, T Daly

Dragons: C Meyer, P Howard, T Morgan, J Dixon, A Warren, A O'Brien, T Knoyle, P Price, E Dee, B Harris, N Crosswell, R Landman, L Evans (captain), N Cudd, H Keddie. Replacements: R Buckley, T Davies, L Fairbrother, C Hill, J Thomas, S Pretorius, GR Jones, T Prydie.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)