The 23-year-old has been thrown straight into the starting line-up against last season’s runners-up having agreed a one-month loan deal following injuries to Jack Dixon, Tyler Morgan, Ashley Smith, Ross Wardle and Pat Leach. Cross Keys playmaker Dorian Jones will partner the new-man in midfield with Angus O’Brien earning his first start after his impressive display in their defeat to the Ospreys.
Captain Lee Byrne has failed to recover from a shoulder injury in time for the match that will see summer recruit Rynard Landman will skipper the side from the second row. Richie Rees will add experience to the back line from scrum-half and fellow Wales international Tom Prydie starts on the wing, with Hallam Amos moving to full-back.
Cory Hill replaces veteran Ian Gough alongside Landman and T Rhys Thomas gets the nod at hooker, replacing Wales Under-20 international Elliot Dee.
Lyn and Kingsley Jones’ men will be hoping for a repeat of last season when they did the double over last season’s runners-up. But Glasgow are in fine form. Their only loss in their last 12 PRO12 matches came against Leinster in last season’s final. And Kingsley Jones is wary of their attacking threat.
He said: “Glasgow are a formidable side. They had a great win over Leinster which they backed up against Cardiff and I still think they are improving, they haven’t hit their peak yet.
“They’re certainly a top four side and I think that they could sneak the title this year. They’ll be hurting after last season’s final and that could act as motivation.
“Gregor Townsend wasn’t happy when we beat them at Rodney Parade last year know how good they are and they will want to prove something after we did the double over them last season.”
Newport Gwent Dragons: H Amos, T Pydie, B John, D Jones, A Brew, A O’Brien, R Rees; B Stankovich, TR Thomas, L Fairbrother, C Hill, R Landman (c), L Evans, N Cudd, T Faletau.
Replacements: E Dee, H Gustafson, D Way, M Screech, A Powell, L Jones, A Hewitt, B Nightingale.
Glasgow Warriors: S Hogg, T Seymour, A Dunbar, P Horne, DTH van de Merwe,D Weir, N Matawalu; G Reid, K Bryce, E Murray, T Swinson, L Nakarawa, R Harley, T Holmes, J Staruss.
Replacements: F Brown, A Allan, R de Klerk, J Eddie, C Fusaro, A Ashe, H Pyrgos, L Jones.
