WALES back row forward Ross Moriarty is back to boost the Dragons for their must-win clash with Glasgow in the race for potential Champions Cup qualification.
The 26-year-old was a late withdrawal from the side that faced Ulster last weekend because of a hip injury but has made a swift recovery for the second of the region’s Guinness PRO14 games at Principality Stadium.
The abrasive back rower will start at number eight when joining forces with Harri Keddie and Ollie Griffiths in the back row against the Warriors.
Centre Nick Tompkins, who set up Jonah Holmes at the death with an interception against Ulster, is once again a replacement after not being selected by Wales for their Grand Slam bid in France.
Director of rugby Dean Ryan has made four changes to his XV with Moriarty, lock Matthew Screech, fit-again wing Ashton Hewitt (pictured above) and Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou coming in.
The Dragons went with six forwards on their bench against Ulster’s power but are back with the more conventional five-three split, with livewire full-back Jordan Williams returning.
Ryan’s men battled back for what could be a vital losing bonus point against the Irish heavyweights, which cut the gap to Glasgow to four points.
The Warriors are still hoping to overhaul the Ospreys for third place in Conference A, a spot that guarantees Champions Cup qualification.
The club that finishes fourth will face a waiting game to see if the PRO14 has eight spots in next season’s premier European tournament.
Glasgow are boosted by the return of co-captain Fraser Brown, who makes his first appearance since suffering a neck injury with Scotland in the Autumn Nations Cup.
The Warriors also include Adam Hastings at full-back after he was given a three-match suspension for a high boot when claiming a ball against Leinster.
Dragons: J Lewis; J Holmes, A Owen, J Roberts, A Hewitt; S Davies, G Bertranou; B Harris, R Hibbard, L Fairbrother, J Davies, M Screech, H Keddie (captain), O Griffiths, R Moriarty.
Replacements: R Lawrence, J Reynolds, C Coleman, B Carter, B Fry, R Williams, N Tompkins, J Williams.
Glasgow: A Hastings; R McLean, N Grigg, R Fergusson, L Jones; R Thompson, S Kennedy; A Seiuli, F Brown, E Pieretto, R Gray, K McDonald, R Harley, T Gordon, R Wilson (captain).
Replacements: G Stewart, D Evans, D Rae, L Nakarawa, F Lokotui, J Dobie, P Horne, O Smith.
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