HUGH Gustafson returns to prop in a bid to strengthen the Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select XV’s set piece in their vital trip to Jersey.

The Dragons must beat Jersey and then turn over Connacht Eagles in Ebbw Vale next Saturday if they are to make the knockout stages of the British and Irish Cup.

They were put under pressure by the Islanders’ strong pack when the sides met earlier in the tournament so opt for experience in the front row.

Captain Gustafson, 28, moves from hooker to loosehead prop – a position he played when skippering Wales Under-20s – and he slots in next to fellow senior Dragons Rhys Buckley and Lloyd Fairbrother at hooker and tighthead.

Academy manager James Chapron is able to call on the services of five other first teamers – wing Aled Brew, centre Ross Wardle, fly-half Geraint Rhys Jones, scrum-half Luc Jones and flanker James Benjamin.

Newport full-back Llywarch Ap Myrddin and lock Adam Brown start while Cross Keys’ Scott Matthews is selected at blindside.

The Dragons are likely to have to settle for second place behind Doncaster Knights, who doubled them in December, if they are to make the quarter-finals.

They would be left hoping that their points total is enough to earn one of the three best runners-up spots and an away tie in the last eight.

To achieve that they need to overcome a Jersey side who are currently second in the group and who have a strong record at their St Peter home.

The hosts, who are fifth in the English Championship and hand a start to former Dragons fly-half Lewis Robling, are gunning for revenge after being robbed at Cross Keys’ Pandy Park in round two.

Jersey bossed the second half and took a shot at goal in the closing stages only to miss and see a 27-23 lead turn into a 30-27 loss thanks to a length of the field move that was finished off by teenage fly-half Arwel Robson.

If they avenge that loss then they will set up a showdown with Doncaster for group top spot next weekend.

Dragons: L Ap Myrddin, A Brew, C Edwards, R Wardle, A Warren, G R Jones, L Jones, H Gustafson (captain), R Buckley, L Fairbrother, S Andrews, A Brown, S Matthews, J Benjamin, H Keddie. Replacements: L Garrett, L Brown, J Skinner, A Powell, O Davies, J Prosser, B Nightingale.

Current Pool Five standings: Doncaster 16, Jersey 13, Dragons 10, Connacht 0