NEWPORT Gwent Dragons openside Nic Cudd doesn't mind putting his head where it hurts but he has been told to make sure he uses it wisely on his return to Llanelli tomorrow (kick-off 4pm).

The 25-year-old flanker will make his fifth start of the season when he lines up for the Dragons in the Guinness Pro12 clash at Parc y Scarlets.

Cudd came through the Scarlets Academy and was a popular figure at Llanelli RFC but found regional opportunities hard to come by and moved east in 2012.

It proved to be a wise decision and he has played 47 times for the Dragons.

Cudd was voted by Argus readers as their player of the month for September after a string of tremendous display at the breakdown but director of rugby Lyn Jones wants his to up his game after last weekend's home success against Treviso.

"I am looking for more of a thinking game from Nic," said Jones. "He lost his way against Treviso after effective performances against the Ospreys and Glasgow.

"He slipped back a few levels last weekend but he can be a game-changer, a game-breaker and I hope we see the best of him tomorrow.

"Nic needs to get a blend of trying to be in the ruck and trying to be out of it to give width to our defence.

"That will be important for us against the Scarlets, we need width so that we have good defensive line speed to put pressure on Rhys Priestland & Co. The clever players judge when to go in and when not to."

The Dragons have kept changes to a minimum for the trip west with lock Ian Gough replacing Cory Hill, who suffered an ankle injury against Treviso, and hooker Rhys Thomas continuing to rotate starts with promising front rower Elliot Dee.

The only other change is among the replacements with scrum-half Richie Rees coming in for Luc Jones.

Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies starts for the Scarlets after missing last weekend's 20-20 draw in Edinburgh after suffering a blow to the head.

Kristian Phillips comes in on the wing after Michael Tagicakibau failed a late fitness test on his knee while Rory Pitman gets the nod at number eight.

The Dragons have won just once in Llanelli, when tries by prop Rhys Thomas, wing Gareth Wyatt and scrum-half Andy Williams secured a 30-23 success at Stradey Park in 2007.

"Records for the Dragons aren't great anywhere, we are here to try and change that, close the gap and then pass our rivals," he said.

"There's no looking back and having hard-line stories, we need to make things happen and make things happen now."

Dragons: L Byrne (captain), T Prydie, B John, A Smith, H Amos, J Tovey, J Evans, B Stankovich, R Thomas, D Way, I Gough, R Landman, A Powell, N Cudd, T Faletau. Replacements: E Dee, H Gustafson, L Fairbrother, J Thomas, L Evans, R Rees, A O'Brien, A Brew.

Scarlets: L Williams, H Robinson, G Owen, S Williams (captain), K Phillips, R Priestland, G Davies, R Evans, E Phillips, S Lee, J Ball, J Snyman, A Shingler, J Barclay, R Pitman. Replacements: K Myhill, P John, R Jones, G Earle, J Davies, A Davies, S Shingler, A Warren.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)