DYNAMIC back rower Ollie Griffiths is in line to offset the loss of Aaron Wainwright in the Dragons’ Guinness PRO14 clash with Ulster, while Wales centre Nick Tompkins will have to settle for a place on the bench.
Wainwright was released from Test camp to start at number eight against the Ospreys last weekend and was the star performer in the 31-20 win in Bridgend.
Wales boss Wayne Pivac was at the Brewery Field and has rewarded the 23-year-old from Newport’s display with a recall to the matchday 23.
Wainwright will be on the bench in Italy in the bid for part four of a Grand Slam on Saturday afternoon and in the evening the Dragons take to the field at Principality Stadium.
His place in the XV looks set go to talisman Griffiths, who has returned to training after being out since suffering an ankle injury against Wasps in December.
The 25-year-old from Newbridge was in sensational form last autumn when he was explosive with ball in hand and potent at the breakdown, with his tally of 10 turnovers meaning he is third in the PRO14 chart despite playing just four games.
Griffiths would ensure the Dragons don’t suffer from a lack of dynamism in the absence of Wainwright.
“It was great to see Aaron come and really want to play for us and perform in front of Wayne,” said director of rugby Dean Ryan.
“You could see his influence; that first try was classic Aaron around the corner with fast feet, nobody could touch him.
“It's those things that good players really bring and Ollie is in that same mix. He is such an influential player for us, so we will see how he is.
“He isn't somebody that we rush back given his history. It's more important that he is ready to play and we are probably a bit more cautious than we are with others.
“That links into him hitting the ground running because he will have been two or three weeks chomping at the bit.”
If Griffiths does return then he would link up with Wales star Ross Moriarty and in-form Harri Keddie with strong-running Dan Baker making another cameo off the bench.
“Dan has come in and is different to the other back rowers,” said Ryan about the number eight, who has signed a short-term deal to effectively be on trial until the end of the campaign.
“You could see in the tail end of the Ospreys game that he gives us fast ball going forward and is a real catalyst for other things that we can do.”
Wainwright is on Test duty but Nick Tompkins has been released to the Dragons for game time after missing out to Jonathan Davies, George North and Willis Halaholo for Rome.
The on-loan Saracens centre will have little preparation time for Ulster so is likely to only be on the bench at Principality Stadium.
Jamie Roberts and Aneurin Owen impressed against the Ospreys, interchanging between inside and outside centre, and look likely to join forces again.
"We have been trying to get Aneurin in for a while and he was framed around that 12 position,” said Ryan.
"We just wanted to change things up a bit rather than necessarily playing with an out-and-out 12 and 12, just being more prescriptive about who is doing what job at what time.
"Aneurin has really grown into that role and Jamie is a huge stabilising factor. Aneurin has grown in confidence and is able now to put some of his strengths on the field.
"I have no reason to change that combination because it's working on both sides (of the game)."
Ryan names his team at midday on Friday with the boss set to name a settled team after the performance and victory against the Ospreys.
“We won't make many changes. I don't think that there is need to and we will be more consistent, injury-permitting, over the next few weeks,” he said.
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