LYN Jones believes South African star Sarel Pretorius will be Newport Gwent Dragons' guiding light as they get set for the big kick-off.

The 31-year-old scrum-half will make his Dragons debut when they take on Connacht in the Guinness Pro12 opener in Galway this evening (kick-off 7.30pm).

He has headed to Rodney Parade from the Cheetahs with a stellar reputation – no scrum-half has scored more Super Rugby tries – and he will be charged with pulling the strings as the region attempt to win at the Sportsground for the first time since 2004.

Pretorius will share the duties at 9 with fellow new arrival Charlie Davies and director of rugby Jones has told them to run the show.

Jones said: "Sarel is an excellent individual, he is very quick and elusive, while Charlie is an experienced campaigner from Wasps with a different style.

"We are developing our game off our 9 and that alleviates the pressure on the 10 in terms of the running of the game.

"Gone are the days where the 10 was the key man – the scrum-half is just as important to run the show now. We want to make sure we have quality while we wait for our young fly-halves to grow."

Pretorius is joined in the starting line-up by four debutants in centre Adam Warren, wing Nick Scott, tighthead Shaun Knight and number eight Ed Jackson while Davies will make his bow from the bench.

Jones has expressed his delight at the way his new signings have settled and established themselves as key members of the squad.

"The quality of the player is important (in recruitment) but the quality of the person was also a key factor for us," said the director of rugby.

"We are not just changing our ability to win games, we are changing our culture and the environment is a positive one with people who don't put up with a lack of success."

Knight starts after impressing in pre-season while Brok Harris, who was such a vital figure of the squad after arriving from the Stormers last season, will be introduced from the bench after a groin niggle meant he wasn't risked in the friendlies.