Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues: Guinness PRO12 preview

Newport Gwent Dragons captain Thomas Rhys Thomas returns to the side for their match against Cardiff Blues, live on Sky Sports 4 HD from 2.50pm.

The international hooker is one of five changes to the team that beat Pau in France in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, a victory that saw the Welsh Region take the top spot of their European pool. 

The Dragons took the spoils in their last encounter with Cardiff, claiming a 25-21 win at Rodney Parade in the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final last April. 

The back three of the Dragons team remains unchanged with full-back Carl Meyer joining wings Nick Scott and Ashton Hewitt.

Fresh from singing a new contract Adam Hughes joins up with Adam Warren in the centres while Dorian Jones starts at fly-half.

The front-row has two changes as prop Phil Price is joined by returning skipper Thomas and South African prop Brok Harris.

Taulupe Faletau sits out the derby match after suffering a knee injury against Pau, Lewis Evans takes his place at No 8.

The Dragons refresh their replacements bench with six changes as Elliot Dee, Boris Stankovich, Lloyd Fairbrother, Cory Hill, Luc Jones and Jason Tovey join Ollie Griffiths and Ross Wardle.

Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams is one of three changes made by Cardiff head coach Danny Wilson.

Lock James Down returns in the second row while Josh Turnbull comes in to wear the No 6 jersey.

Centre Cory Allen could make his comeback, after injuring his hamstring in the Rugby World Cup, as he is named among the replacements.

Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Nick Scott, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 1 Phil Price, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas (capt), 3 Brok Harris, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Nick Crosswell, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Lewis Evans.

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Ollie Griffiths, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Ross Wardle.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (capt), 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Lou Reed, 5 James Down, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Josh Navidi, 8 Manoa Vosawai

Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Cory Allen, 23 Dan Fish