The influential skipper has recovered from a back strain and is in the team for the first time since he helped the Rodney Parade region to their only win of the season against Treviso.
The British & Irish Lion is one of seven changes to the team that went down 26-13 to the Scarlets last weekend.
Matthew Pewtnew joins Byrne in the back-three for his first start of the season with Tom Prydie moving to outside-centre after yet another midfielder, Ben John, picked up an injury in the East vs West clash.
Former Wales Under-20 star Elliot Dee switches places in the front-row with T. Rhys Thomas, who drops to the bench. Andrew Coombs is thrown straight back into the side after a three-week ban to replace Ian Gough and Andy Powell moves to his preferred no. 8 position in the absence of talisman Toby Faletau.
Scotland flyer Dougie Fife returns on the wing for Alan Solomons side following his rehabilitation from a knee injury. Tom Heathcote comes back into the struggling side – who have not won since their first round upset at Munster – for Kiwi Phil Burleigh.
Alasdair Dickinson is at loose head to take on emerging Welsh talent Dan Way and Hamish Watson replace Roddy Grant at open-side flanker.
Returning Dragons second-row Andrew Coombs said: “It’s nice to feel part of the squad again. It was an accident, a clumsy mistake and I have paid the price. There’s no beating around the bush, we’ve got a really good squad but we are not playing well. I think it’s a matter of flicking that switch and when we do that we will prove that we are a good side.”
Edinburgh: G Tonks, D Fife, S Beard, A Strauss, T Visser, T Heathcote, S Kennedy; A Dickinson, R Ford, J Andress, A Bresler, G Gilchrist, M Coman (c), H Watson, C Du Preez.
Replacements: J Hilterbrand, A Dell, W Nel, O Atkins, T Leonardi, S Hidalgo-Clyne, P Burleigh, J Cuthbert.
Newport Gwent Dragons: L Byrne(c), M Pewtner, T Prydie, A Smith, H Amos, J Tovey, J Evans; B Stankovich, E Dee, D Way, A Coombs, R Landman, L Evans, N Cudd, A Powell.
Replacements: T. R Thomas, H Gustafson, L Fairbrother, I Gough, J Thomas, R Rees, A O’Brien, A Brew.
