NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have opted for experience as they attempt to return to winning ways against the Ospreys in the LV= Cup tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.35pm), writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons have made five changes to the team that lost 31-21 at Harlequins last weekend with seasoned campaigners Rynard Landman, Ashley Smith, Boris Stankovich and Lewis Evans returning along with Tyler Morgan, who has been out for two months with a knee injury.

Lyn Jones’ team have won just two of 10 games this season – against Treviso in the Guinness Pro12 and Stade Francais in the European Rugby Challenge Cup – and could do with a morale-boosting success ahead of next Friday’s league clash with Munster at Rodney Parade.

Landman captains the team from the second row and part of a strong tight five that includes new South African recruit Brok Harris, who made his debut at the Twickenham Stoop, and experienced loosehead Stankovich.

Smith returns in midfield to partner Ross Wardle with 19-year-old speedster Morgan returning on the wing.

Lewis Evans will make his 150th appearance for the region in the back row, giving former Wales and Lions number eight Andy Powell a first break of the season.

Elliot Dee continues at hooker and the 20-year-old is the only member of the squad to have played in every game this season.

The Dragons will lock horns with four old boys with full-back Richard Fussell, hooker Sam Parry and number eight Ieuan Jones starting for the west Walians while full-back Dan Evans is on the bench.

The Ospreys have also selected a strong side, particularly in the backs with scrum-half Martin Roberts, fly-half Sam Davies, centres Ashley Beck and Hanno Dirksen and wings Aisea Natoga and Dafydd Howells all likely to feature against Ulster when the Pro12 returns next weekend.

Ospreys: R Fussell, D Howells, H Dirksen, A Beck, A Natoga, S Davies, M Roberts (captain), M Thomas, S Parry, D Suter, R Thornton, R Bernardo, I Boladau, R Dudley-Jones, I Jones. Replacements: M Dwyer, G Thomas, C Griffiths, A Beard, T Spinks, T Habberfield, D Evans, A Evans.

Dragons: G R Jones, T Morgan, R Wardle, A Smith, A Hewitt, D Jones, J Evans, B Stankovich, E Dee, B Harris, C Hill, R Landman (captain), J Thomas, J Benjamin, L Evans. Replacements: H Gustafson, P Price, D Young, J Davies, O Griffiths, L Jones, J Tovey, M Pewtner.