FORMER Springbok Zane Kirchner returns to full-back as the Dragons look to their South Africans to lead the charge on home soil against the Kings tomorrow (kick-off 5.35pm), writes Chris Kirwan.

The 33-year-old has featured as fly-half and in midfield since returning from a dislocated shoulder suffered in September.

However, Kirchner is back at 15 for the Guinness PRO14 encounter with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth in the absence of Wales international Hallam Amos, who has not been released from Six Nations camp this week.

The Dragons are boosted by the return to fitness of speedster Ashton Hewitt after a month out with a foot injury while, like 31-times capped Kirchner, centre Jarryd Sage, scrum-half Sarel Pretorius and lock Rynard Landman will be looking to impress back in South Africa.

Head coach Bernard Jackman makes five changes to his XV after the disappointing 25-12 loss to Edinburgh in Ebbw Vale last Friday.

He brings in wing Hewitt, centre Sage, scrum-half Pretorius, blindside Harri Keddie and openside Ollie Griffiths for the clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Lock/flanker Max Williams and scrum-half Dan Babos have been released from Wales Under-20s duty to feature among the replacements.

Of the travelling 25, tighthead Nicky Thomas and back rower Aaron Wainwright miss out.

The Dragons are attempting to win in the league for the first time since beating the Kings with a bonus point at Rodney Parade in September.

If they can add to their winless hosts' woes then the region will also end a long, embarrassing wait for a win on the road in the PRO14 that stretches back to Treviso in March, 2015.

The Kings have lost all 16 games since being added to the European competition and are fresh from heavy defeats to Ulster 59-10, the Ospreys 26-12 and Leinster 64-7.

"Every team in an international competition like this presents a tough challenge and the Dragons are no different, but I expect a strong reaction from my team to last week's blowout against Leinster," said head coach Deon Davids.

"Everyone is determined to make up for what was a bad day at the office. We've played really well at times this season and it's now time we put in an 80-minute performance at that level.

"If we execute properly and cut down on some basic errors then we'll be in with a shout. Errors at this level are severely punished."

Southern Kings: M Banda, M Makase, B Klaasen, L Vulindlu, A Volmink, M du Toit, R Gouws, S Ferreira, M Willemse (captain), P Scholtz, S Greeff, B De Wee, A Ntsila, M Burger, R Lerm. Replacements: S Coetzee, J Smith, L Pupuma, L Welemu, A van Schalkwyk, G Masimla, K Coleman, J Nel.

Dragons: Z Kirchner, A Hewitt, J Sage, J Dixon, J Rosser, D Jones, S Pretorius, S Hobbs, L Belcher, L Brown, J Davies, R Landman, H Keddie, O Griffiths, L Evans (captain). Replacements: E Shipp, G Ellis, L Fairbrother, M Williams, J Benjamin, D Babos, C Edwards, R Dyer.