DRAGONS lock Cory Hill will captain Wales in their bid for a series victory against Argentina on Saturday – and complete a clean sweep of international fixtures for 2017/18.

The 26-year-old led Warren Gatland's team to a fine 23-10 win in San Juan last weekend and has the honour again after tour co-captain Ellis Jenkins was skipper in the victory against South Africa in Washington.

The achievement emphasises Hill’s remarkable rise into becoming a key figure in the Wales set-up – and means that he will have featured in all 12 Test matches this season.

No other player has managed that feat, with just two of those outings being as a replacement.

The Dragons skipper, who made his international debut in the autumn of 2016 because of an injury crisis, has frequently been hailed by Gatland as his country’s most-improved player.

This time last year he was briefly called onto the Lions tour to cover for injuries as one of the 'Geography Six'. That led to ridicule in some quarters but now Hill is a serious rival to Jake Ball, who suffered a shoulder injury in the autumn, as Alun Wyn Jones' second row partner.

Cardiff Blues’ Jenkins was rested last week after an impressive display against the Springboks but returns to join forces with fellow scavenging flanker James Davies either side of Dragons-bound number eight Ross Moriarty.

Hill is joined in the XV by Rodney Parade teammate Hallam Amos at full-back while hooker Elliot Dee, after a pair of strong displays, drops down to the bench to give Ryan Elias a starting chance.

Gatland is forced into a midfield change after Hadleigh Parkes suffered a broken finger in the opening minutes of the win in San Juan. Owen Watkin comes in to partner Scott Williams.

Tomas Francis slots in at tighthead with Dillon Lewis dropping down to the bench after two impressive starts while Aled Davies gets the nod at scrum-half, meaning all three touring 9s have been given a start.

"We've made five changes to the starting line-up as we want to see a few players from the start and give those players a bit more opportunity" said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

"Looking at the objectives of this tour, we are right on track, we have won two games from two but more importantly we have exposed players to test match rugby and given more opportunity and that was the aim coming in.

"We want to go home three from three but we know the challenge that we are up against this weekend and we also are looking at the bigger picture.

“We might have picked a slightly different team if it was just about results but it is about more than that it is about building for 2019 and we are on the right track.

"Both Cory (Hill) and Ellis (Jenkins) have been great on tour as co-captains. This week with them both in the side we have just gone for a bit of continuity with Cory doing the job as he did last weekend.

“Additionally we are asking Ellis to play at six so this allows him to concentrate on that role on Saturday."

Dragons flanker Aaron Wainwright, 20, misses out after being an unused replacement against South Africa and then capping a remarkable season with an impressive first Test outing as a sub in San Juan.

WALES TEAM TO FACE ARGENTINA

15. Hallam Amos (17 Caps)

14. Josh Adams (3 Caps)

13. Scott Williams (56 Caps)

12. Owen Watkin (5 Caps) -

11. George North (75 Caps)

10. Rhys Patchell (9 Caps)

9. Aled Davies (10 Caps)

1. Rob Evans (26 Caps)

2. Ryan Elias (4 Caps)

3. Tomas Francis (32 Caps)

4. Adam Beard (3 Caps)

5. Cory Hill (17 Caps) (CAPTAIN)

6. Ellis Jenkins (7 Caps)

7. James Davies (2 Caps)

8. Ross Moriarty (23 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee (9 Caps)

17. Nicky Smith (20 Caps)

18. Dillon Lewis (4 Caps)

19. Bradley Davies (62 Caps)

20. Josh Turnbull (9 Caps)

21. Tomos Williams (1 Cap)

22. Gareth Anscombe (17 Caps)

23. Tom Prydie (6 Caps)