Ospreys v Dragons: Teams

Sonny Parker: Captains a youthful Ospreys side

The Ospreys and Dragons will play the first Welsh regional derby in Bridgend since 2004 when they go head-to-head in the LV= Cup at Brewery Field.

After two rounds, the Ospreys are winless in Pool One and will want to pick up points at home before next week's away trip to Worcester.

But they will have their work cut out against a Dragons side who have got the better of Ospreys in their last three encounters.

South African centre and former Bulls player Stefan Watermeyer will make his Ospreys debut in a revamped side from the one that lost to Biarritz in the Heineken Cup.

Other debutants set to feature if they make their way off the bench are Jonathan Thomas, Sam Williams, Rory Pitman, Sam Davies and Luke Morgan.

"This competition has been good for the Ospreys in terms of player development. You've only got to look at the players who've been involved with the first team this season who have benefited from the LV= Cup," Tandy said.

Experience

"The likes of Tipuric, Beck and Webb have all used this competition to kick on, graduating to the first team and now the Welsh squad, while people like Matthew Morgan and Eli (Walker) have also been playing European rugby.

"That makes it clear to some of the young boys coming in for this match that if they make their mark then they could also step up."

Meanwhile, the Dragons have made 10 changes to their starting line-up for the clash, with Joe Bedford set to captain the aside from scrum-half.

A number of players will make their comebacks from injuries, with full-back Jamie Smith continuing his return to fitness by starting this week after coming on as a substitute in last week's win over Prato in the Challenge Cup.

Pat Leach (face) starts on the wing whilst Aaron Coundly (bicep) comes onto the bench as both make their Dragons comebacks after lengthy spells out.

The Dragons give chances to development and academy players Sam Parry and Ieuan Jones, while younger member of the squad such as Steffan Jones, Lewis Robling and Jonathan Evans are also named in the squad.

Jevon Groves gets a chance to start in the second row for the Dragons while Dan Hodge, a try scorer in the British & Irish Cup quarter-final - gets a spot on the bench.

Ospreys: 15 Ross Jones, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Sonny Parker (c), 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Matthew Morgan, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Chauncey O'Toole, 5 James Goode, 4 Lloyd Peers, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Cai Griffiths.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Joe Rees, 18 Jonathan Thomas, 19 Sam Williams, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Tom Grabham, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Luke Morgan.

Dragons: 15 Jamie Smith, 14 Will Harries, 13 Andy Tuilagi, 12 Lewis Robling, 11 Pat Leach, 10 Steffan Jones, 9 Joe Bedford (capt), 8 Ieuan Jones, 7 Darren Waters, 6 Hugo Ellis, 5 Jevon Groves, 4 Royce Cadman, 3 Dan Way, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Phil Price.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Aaron Coundly, 18 Keiron Jenkins, 19 Dan Hodge, 20 Josh Tyler, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Luke Williams, 23 Geraint O'Driscoll.