LOOSEHEAD Thomas Davies will make his first Guinness PRO12 start since the second week of the season when Newport Gwent Dragons take on Edinburgh at Myreside tomorrow (kick-off 7.35pm).

The 24-year-old has made 17 appearances this season with starts against Brive in the European Challenge Cup, Newcastle in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and Zebre in the league back in September.

Davies, a recruit from Cardiff Blues last summer, gets a chance in the 1 jersey in the absence of Sam Hobbs (back) while head coach Kingsley Jones makes four other changes to the XV that put in a plucky performance in the 21-16 defeat to the Scarlets at Judgement Day a fortnight ago.

Centre Jack Dixon and wing Pat Howard come in for Tyler Morgan (ribs) and Adam Warren (toe) respectively while up front there are starts for hooker Rhys Thomas and tighthead Brok Harris.

The back row is unchanged, although Ollie Griffiths has been named at number eight with Lewis Evans blindside, while 19-year-old scrum-half Owain Leonard is poised for a debut off the bench.

Ninth-placed Edinburgh, who head into the game with a two-point lead over the Dragons, select former Rodney Parade favourite Jason Tovey at fly-half.

The Scots have lost their last eight in the PRO12 while the Dragons haven't won since beating Enisei-STM in the Challenge Cup on January 16.

Kingsley Jones' side need to win to avoid an away whitewash in all competitions in 2016/17.

Edinburgh: G Bryce, D Hoyland, C Dean, J Rasolea, R Scholes, J Tovey, N Fowles, A Dell, G Turner, S Berghan, G Gilchrist (captain), B Toolis, V Mata, H Watson, C Du Preez. Replacements: R Ford, M McCallum, K Bryce, F McKenzie, J Hardie, S Hidalgo-Clyne, D Weir, B Kinghorn.

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hughes, S Beard, J Dixon, P Howard, A O’Brien, C Davies, T Davies, R Thomas, B Harris, M Screech, C Hill, L Evans (captain), N Cudd, O Griffiths. Replacements: R Buckley, P Price, C Mitchell, R Landman, H Keddie, O Leonard, GR Jones, T Prydie.

Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)