Aironi v Dragons: Teams

Julien Laharrague and Gareth Krause will make their welcome returns for Aironi for the clash with the Dragons.

Full-back Laharrague replaces the injured Paolo Buso, while Krause comes into the back row.

There is also a first call-up for young hooker Tommaso D'Apice, who has been named among the replacements.

And confidence is high in the Aironi side that they can record a first victory.

"The feeling is good, we have had very good training sessions all the week. We want this win because we need it", said Krause.

Acting Dragons Coach Darren Edwards has included Wales lock Luke Charteris in his side to face Aironi.

Hooker Lloyd Burns is also included as captain Tom Willis is suspended, while Martyn Thomas returns at full-back.

With Ashley Smith and Matthew Watkins picking up knocks, Pat Leach and Tom Riley start in the centres.

And Edwards believes his side will be in for a tricky 80 minutes in Italy.

"Aironi are a heavy, physical team and they don't give up," said Edwards.

"They put in a good performance against Leinster last week and it took Leinster 70 minutes to break them down and that was away from home

"They are going into the game quite confident and I know we will have to work hard to get a victory out there.

"They have certainly improved since we last played them and I would say they are the most improved team this year.

"They gave away a lot of penalties away at the start of the season, but they have changed that and it is only a matter of time until they get their first victory and I just hope it's not against us this weekend."

Aironi: 15 Julien Laharrague; 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gabriel Pizarro, 12 Horacio San Martin, 11 Giulio Toniolatti; 10 James Marshall, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Nick Williams. 7 Gareth Krause, 6 Jaco Erasmus, 5 Marco Bortolami (c), 4 Joshua Furno, 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Alberto De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Luca Redolfini, 18 Andrea De Marchi, 19 George Biagi, 20 Nicola Cattina, 21 Pietro Travagli, 22 Alberto Benettin, 23 Matteo Pratichetti.

Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Will Harries, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Pat Leach, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Andrew Coombs, 7 Joe Bearman, 6 Lewis Evans, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Rob Sidoli, 3 Dan Way, 2 Lloyd Burns, 1 Phil Price.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Hugh Gustafson, 18 Ben Castle, 19 Scott Morgan, 20 Hugo Ellis, 21 Mike Petri, 22 Mathew Jones, 23 Adam Hughes.