Dragons v Leinster: Teams

The Dragons will welcome back Wales internationals Dan Lydiate and Luke Charteris to their starting XV for the visit of Leinster.

Charteris has been handed the captaincy in the continued absence of Tom Willis, and the second row is relishing a return to domestic action.

"It has been really fantastic to see the performances the team has put in whilst I've been away and there is a buzz around the camp which I've enjoyed getting back into," said Charteris, speaking to Wales Rugby Union.

"Obviously the wins against Edinburgh and Sale were great results after but even when we lost to Leicester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, the performance was strong and the signs that we are really stepping up this season were there.

"Although Leinster may have rested some of their Irish internationals for this weekend, the Irish provinces have shown that they can afford to lose these players and still put out a very strong team which is why the Irish sides always figure at the top of the league at the end of the season and are always pushing in the Heineken Cup."

Leinster are set to hand debuts to academy forwards Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan and Eoin O'Malley for the trip to Rodney Parade.

Ruddock and Ryan have impressed for the 'second string' in the British & Irish Cup, so they will now team up in the back row for the senior team.

O'Malley comes into the side in the centres, where he will partner Ireland A back Fergus McFadden.

Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Aled Brew, 13 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 12 Tom Riley, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Grant Webb, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris (capt), 4 Rob Sidoli, 3 Pat Palmer, 2 Steve Jones, 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Duane Goodfield, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 Hoani MacDonald, 19 Adam Jones, 20 Martyn Thomas, 21 Will Harries, 22 Alex Walker.

Leinster: 15 Niall Morris, 14 David Kearney, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Simon Keogh, 10 Ian McKinley, 9 Chris Keane, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Dominic Ryan, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Devin Toner, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman (capt), 1 Ronan McCormack.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Paul Ryan, 20 Paul O'Donohoe, 21 Ian Madigan, 22 Michael Keating.