WALES international Tyler Morgan can help Newport Gwent Dragons stretch a tiring Ulster defence when they attempt to stun the title challengers in Friday’s Guinness Pro12 opener, says backs coach Shaun Connor.

The 20-year-old from Caerleon is set to feature as a replacement in the league opener in Belfast after sitting out the pre-season fixtures following the summer tour to New Zealand.

The Dragons will be strengthened from the side that faced Exeter in their final tune-up with captain Lewis Evans a contender for a back row start after being unavailable because of a friend’s wedding while lock Rynard Landman has recovered from a calf niggle.

His fellow South African Brok Harris will undergo a fitness test on a shoulder problem to determine whether he can feature at tighthead prop.

Speedster Hallam Amos is likely to return in the round two meeting with Zebre in Newport after starting all three Tests against the All Blacks but three-times capped Morgan will cover midfield and wing.

His presence will be a real boon for a Dragons side attempting to record only their second win at Kingspan Stadium, their sole success coming when the famous ground was called Ravenhill in 2008.

“Tyler has gas to die for and is a classical 13 with outside breaks and a strong fend,” said former fly-half Connor.

“I also think that he’s grown since the World Cup last year and through being involved with Wales has become a more mature individual, becoming more of a leader for us.

“He is a game-changer and for us, the way that want to play the game it’s about giving players like him the ball in space. Coming off the bench against a tired defence, Tyler is going to be a real threat for us.”

Morgan is poised to make a return to action but his fellow centre Ross Wardle will undergo surgery next week on the knee injury that he suffered at the Singha Premiership 7s in July.

The Dragons are still waiting for a specialist to determine whether hooker Elliot Dee needs to go under the knife after the ankle ligament damage suffered against Cardiff Blues in pre-season.

Wales wing Tom Prydie is nearing a return after eight months out with a knee injury while Argus Dragon of the Year Ashton Hewitt is also progressing well following the shoulder injury that ended his breakthrough season early.

Their imminent returns, and the presence of Amos, will give the Dragons more firepower to add to Pat Howard, who has impressed on the flank in pre-season following his summer move from Northampton.

“We feel we have a lot of quality out wide and in the centres as well, the strength in depth is there that we haven’t had in recent years,” said Connor.

The Dragons name their XV at midday on Thursday with Adam Warren likely to be on the other wing after starting every game in midfield last season.