THE Dragons have named their side early for Saturday’s Judgement Day clash against the Scarlets with fit-again Ryan Woodman making his first start since January.

The Rodney Parade club finish their United Rugby Championship campaign with a derby at Cardiff City Stadium (kick-off 3pm) as the part one of the double-header.

Teams are unusually announced the day before the fixture but head coach Dai Flanagan has no qualms about giving the Scarlets early confirmation of his line-up.

Blindside Woodman makes a welcome return as a starter after coming off the bench in the defeat to the Ospreys last time out.

The 20-year-old from Caldicot, who had been on the radar of Wales boss Warren Gatland before suffering a thumb injury against the Sharks, forms a back row with Wales stars Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright.

Woodman will be keen to impress before heading off to the World Rugby U20 Championship this summer.

South Wales Argus: STARTER: Dragons centre Joe Westwood comes into the XV to face the ScarletsSTARTER: Dragons centre Joe Westwood comes into the XV to face the Scarlets (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Flanagan makes three other changes to the XV that lost at the Swansea.com Stadium with promising centre Joe Westwood rewarded for an impressive cameo by slotting in next to Aneurin Owen, who brings up his Dragons half century, in a homegrown midfield.

Brodie Coghlan starts at hooker in place of Elliot Dee – who suffered an ankle injury against the Ospreys but should be fine to be named by Gatland in the Wales squad on Monday – while Rhodri Williams returns to captain the side from scrum-half.

The Dragons’ 23 features just one player who is a confirmed summer leaver – replacement wing/centre Sio Tomkinson.

“We’re excited for the game in the capital and looking to finish our season on a high note,” said Flanagan.

“We enjoyed the experience of Judgement Day last season and it’s important we mirror that performance if we want to achieve the same result.

“It’s great to see players like Joe Westwood, Ryan Woodman, and Brodie Coghlan earning a place back in the team for the final weekend.

“It really shows the future direction of our club, with talented young players eager to make an impression and play for a team that means a huge amount to them.”

Exciting scrum-half Che Hope, back from Premiership final disappointment with Newport RFC, gets the nod on the bench ahead of fellow young gun Morgan Lloyd.

Flanagan has plenty of experience among his replacements in James Benjamin, Rodrigo Martinez, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Tomkinson and Steff Hughes, who is emergency fly-half cover and could make his 100th URC outing.

Dragons: Ewan Rosser, Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Chris Hollis, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams (captain); Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Rodrigo Martinez, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Che Hope, Steff Hughes, Sio Tomkinson.

Unavailable: Harri Ackerman (leg), Oli Andrew (hamstring), Leon Brown (knock), Elliot Dee (ankle), Cai Evans (shin), Lloyd Fairbrother (calf), Ollie Griffiths (elbow), Ashton Hewitt (knee), Harri Keddie (calf), Bradley Roberts (back), Jared Rosser (calf), George Young (pec).