DRAGONS boss Bernard Jackman says they have moved Hallam Amos to midfield in a bid to get the ball in the Wales international’s hands more often.

Amos will make his return from a dislocated elbow in the unfamiliar position of outside centre in tomorrow’s Guinness PRO14 fixture at Connacht.

The 24-year-old has won all of his 18 caps in the back three and hasn’t started in midfield since playing age-grade rugby.

“Hallam is one of our most talented players and we want to get him on the ball as much as possible,” said head coach Jackman, who was on the Connacht bench in the Dragons’ sole win at the Sportsground in 2004.

“With the anticipated conditions in Galway, it will be hard to get into the wide channels and with Tyler Morgan away we can have a look at Hallam at 13 and get him involved.”

The Dragons make two other changes to the XV that took to the field in last week’s 36-18 loss to Ulster in Belfast.

Lock Joe Davies comes in for Matthew Screech (ankle) and bright prospect Taine Basham replaces Huw Taylor in the back row.

“Taine is a player we have huge hope for,” added Jackman. “We gave him league game time last season as an 18-year-old and we believe he has a very bright future.

“We have a lot of good backs rows at the region, but with Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright away with Wales we can look at him.

“Huw Taylor had a slight ankle knock in the week, which prevented him training, and James Benjamin has a dead leg, which he suffered against Hong Kong. But Taine deserves this start and he certainly impressed us all off the bench in Belfast last week.”

Jason Tovey continues at 10 on permit from Cross Keys while tighthead Dan Suter, who spent the summer playing club rugby in New Zealand, is set for a first appearance of the season off the bench.

James Thomas is preferred to Rynard Landman as cover for the second row.

Connacht: T O’Halloran, C Kelleher, K Godwin, T Farrell, C De Buitléar, D Horwitz, K Marmion, D Buckley, T McCartney, C Carey, U Dillane, J Cannon, S O’Brien, C Fainga’a, J Butler (captain). Replacements: S Delahunt, M Burke, C O’Donnell, J Maksymiw, J Connolly, C Blade, J Carty, E Griffin.

Dragons: J Williams, D Howells, H Amos, J Sage, W Talbot-Davies, J Tovey, R Williams, B Harris, R Hibbard (captain), L Fairbrother, J Davies, L Evans, H Keddie, N Cudd, T Basham. Replacements: R Lawrence, A Jarvis, D Suter, J Thomas, H Taylor, T Knoyle, J Dixon, A Warren.

Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)