WING Ashton Hewitt has given the Dragons a boost by being given the green light to start against Bordeaux-Begles in the European Challenge Cup but weary flanker James Benjamin is only fit enough for the bench.

The duo went off in the 36-28 loss to the French side at the Stade Chaban-Delmas last Saturday, the speedster late on after knee and neck injuries while the openside went off early in the second half because of a persistent rib problem.

Hewitt has recovered to stay on the right flank but Benjamin is only fit enough for the bench with James Sheekey coming in at blindside flanker and Aaron Wainwright shifting to 7.

There are three other changes with full-back Carl Meyer, a try scorer in the west of France, loosehead Sam Hobbs and fly-half Gavin Henson coming in.

Benjamin has had a tremendous campaign but has been forced to shoulder too heavy a burden because of the region’s back row injury crisis.

The 23-year-old from Rogerstone, who played just one regional game as a replacement last season, has featured in 18 of 20 fixtures, all but one of those games in the XV.

He was patched up to start in Bordeaux but a sign of him struggling came when the Wales 7s international only just made the line to score a try in a foot race with Australian lock Luke Jones.

The Dragons will rest Benjamin over the next fortnight while the Anglo-Welsh Cup is played – and are hopeful of Harrison Keddie, Max Williams, Ollie Griffiths and Max Williams returning soon – but have no option but to select him on the bench this afternoon because they must pick from a registered European squad.

“This season ‘Jumbo’ has played so much rugby,” said defence coach Hendre Marnitz. “We would have liked to have played him a bit less but unfortunately the cards we have been dealt we have had to go in this direction.

“We will manage Jumbo’s training load and game time where we possibly can because he has played a lot of rugby this season.

“It’s a challenge for us because if you pick up injuries then it becomes tricky to manage the load and we have been unlucky with Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Max Williams, Harri Keddie, so you just have to roll with what you have got.”

The Dragons need a comprehensive victory to sneak into second place in Pool One and then for other results to go their way in their quest for the quarter-finals.

Bordeaux won 36-28 when the teams met at the Stade Chaban-Delmas last weekend, scoring five tries and ensuring the Dragons headed home for nothing to show for their spirited display.

However, Jackman’s men still have a sliver of hope and will be watching other scores come in with interest if they can turn the tables by romping to victory and leaving the Top 14 side pointless.

“If we make sure we tick the boxes we need to and if by hook or by crook the other results go our way then excellent, but we are purely focused on our task against Bordeaux,” said Marnitz.

“We know that we should and could have won last weekend but for a couple of silly things, so our focus is purely on us.

“We have got one task and that’s beating Bordeaux, the rest is out of our control.”

Bordeaux don't feature teenage sensation Matthieu Jalibert, the fly-half who has been named in France's Six Nations squad, but flanker Marco Tauleigne, who will hope to win his first cap in the coming weeks is included.

Impressive tighthead Peni Ravai, a Fijian 7s international who can also play in the backs, starts after giving the Dragons a torrid time last weekend.

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hewitt, A Warren, J Dixon, J Rosser, G Henson, S Pretorius, S Hobbs, E Dee, L Fairbrother, R Landman, C Hill (captain), J Sheekey, A Wainwright, R Blake. Replacements: L Belcher, T Davies, G Ellis, J Davies, J Benjamin, D Babos, D Jones, P Howard

Bordeaux-Begles: G Cros, F Fuatai, P Uberti, M Talebula, I Etcheverry, B Volavola, J Gimbert, S Taofifenua, A Pelissie, P Ravai, L Jones, J Marais (captain), M Tauleigne, C Woki, L Houston. Replacements: F Dufour, T Paiva, L Tabidze, C Cazeaux, A Roumat, G Doubrere, T Schoeman, A Naqalevu.

Referee: Tom Foley (England)