Ross Moriarty returns for the Dragons after recovering from the worrying head knock he sustained last month.
The Wales back rower sparked concern when he stayed on the floor for a couple of minutes while medics administered treatment early in his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup game against the Emirates Lions.
Four weeks on, Moriarty is back for the United Rugby Championship encounter against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday (7.35pm).
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The assignment in the Irish capital against opponents who are unbeaten against all-comers this term will be a huge test for the Dragons, but having their teak-hard talisman back will help.
“Ross Moriarty is enjoying his rugby, just coming in every day with a smile on his face and wanting to be better,” said head coach Dai Flanagan.
“That cheers me up because if we can get the best out of Ross, he’s some player.”
The Dragons make six changes, one of them positional. Up front Ben Fry returns to the back row with Moriarty. Behind, Angus O’Brien is named at full-back, Will Reed takes over at fly-half and Steff Hughes features at inside centre with Sio Tomkinson moving to wing.
Leinster have many players involved in the Six Nations but have depth in their squad and the Dragons team boss didn’t make any attempt to underplay the scale of the examination awaiting his side. Asked what Leinster do well, Flanagan said: “Everything. They’re Ireland, aren’t they?
“Everything they do is understood and in detail. Their speed of ball is through the roof — that’ll be a big challenge for us.”
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Jamie Osborne, Dave Kearney; Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath; Michael Milne, John McKee, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony, Brian Deeny, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Scott Penny, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jason Jenkins, Will Connors, Nick McCarthy, Charlie Tector, Rob Russell
Dragons: Angus O’Brien; Sio Tomkinson, Steff Hughes, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt; Will Reed, Rhodri Williams (capt), Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, Ben Fry, Taine Basham, Ross Moriarty.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Aki Seiuli, Chris Coleman, Sean Lonsdale, Ryan Woodman, Lewis Jones, JJ Hanrahan, Jordan Williams
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