CENTRE Pat Leach returns against London Welsh in the LV= Cup on Sunday as Newport Gwent Dragons prepare for the return of the Guinness Pro12.

The 29-year-old, who has been sidelined since damaging knee ligaments in the pre-season win against Northampton, returns alongside Ashley Smith in midfield in an experienced line-up for the encounter with the Exiles.

Director Lyn Jones has next weekend’s tricky trip to Leinster on his mind by bringing back a number of first-teamers, plumping for his first-choice tight five.

Blindside Lewis Evans makes his last appearance before an operation to rectify ligament  damage in his left wrist while New Zealander Nick Crosswell moves to number eight after an impressive debut at 6.

Loosehead Boris Stankovich makes a welcome return among the replacements after three months on the sidelines.

The Dragons cannot qualify for the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh competitions while Welsh are still striving for their first win of the season after enduring 22 losses.

Dragons: T Prydie, M Pewtner, P Leach, A Smith, A Hewitt, A O’Brien, L Jones, P Price, R Thomas, B Harris, A Coombs, R Landman (captain), L Evans, J Benjamin, N Crosswell. Replacements: R Buckley, B Stankovich, D Way, I Gough, S Matthews, R Rees, J Tovey, J Dixon.

London Welsh: W Robinson, E Kear, N Reynolds, S Jewell (captain), N Scott, T Roberts, P Weepu, N Trevett, N Morris, T Vea, B West, J Down, P Browne, R Thorpe, O Fonua. Replacements: R Elloway, E Aholelei, J Gilding, M Corker, J Liston, A Davies, O Barkley, J Tincknell.