THE Dragons have suffered another front row blow for their knockout European clash with Northampton with influential prop Brok Harris joining Richard Hibbard on the sidelines.
The South African loosehead, who this week was named as the Guinness PRO14’s top tackler, has suffered a hamstring twinge and will not be risked.
Harris had missed just one game this season but will sit out the fixture against the Saints in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup with Greg Bateman coming into the XV.
Director of rugby Dean Ryan makes three other changes to the starting line-up that beat Edinburgh last weekend.
Wales hooker Elliot Dee comes in for Hibbard, whose fractured right hand means the Dragons have signed Taylor Davies on loan from the Scarlets.
The 25-year-old, who has played has trained with his new teammates all week and comes straight onto the bench ahead of Rhys Lawrence.
Club captain Rhodri Williams gets the nod ahead of Argentina international Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half and Jamie Roberts is back from a dead leg in midfield.
Ryan rewards the form of 20-year-old centre Aneurin Owen and tighthead Lloyd Fairbrother, with Six Nations squad members Nick Tompkins and Leon Brown having to be content with places on the bench.
“Credit to the guys that have built momentum while the internationals have been away," said Ryan.
“The squad definitely has a stronger look to it when we add people back in, so that gives us tactically some places we can go to.
“We are getting to a stage as a squad where there are some decisions to be made all the time rather than it being selected on availability.”
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar misses out for Northampton with an abdominal injury but the Saints, fresh from giving Worcester a drubbing, travel with a formidable side.
“The top half of the Premiership is a tough place to be and they are on the edge of the play-offs,” said Ryan.
“They are ambitious, young and play without restriction and that can be really dangerous.
“At times they are one of the most dangerous sides but they are also a side that can find it difficult to dig themselves out if that doesn't work. We definitely hope to get that in that second part as much as we can.”
Dragons: J Williams; J Holmes, A Owen, J Roberts, A Hewitt; S Davies, R Williams (captain); G Bateman, E Dee, L Fairbrother, J Davies, M Screech, A Wainwright, H Keddie, R Moriarty.
Replacements: T Davies, J Reynolds, L Brown, B Carter, D Baker, G Bertranou, E Lloyd, N Tompkins.
Northampton: H Mallinder; O Sleightholme, F Dingwall, R Hutchinson, T Naiyaravoro; J Grayson, A Mitchell; N Auterac, M Haywood, E Painter, A Moon, A Coles, N Isiekwe, JJ Tonks, T Harrison (captain).
Replacements: S Matavesi, A Waller, O Heffernan, L Bean, S Adendorff, H Taylor, A Tuala, T Collins.
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
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