FIVE Dragons will feature as Wales Under-20s try to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive with victory against Italy in Colwyn Bay on Friday (kick-off 7.15pm).

Wing Joe Goodchild, lock Max Williams and number eight Taine Basham are in the XV while back row forward Lennon Greggains is set to make his Under-20s debut from the bench, where he is joined by wing Rio Dyer.

Wales are fresh from an impressive round three win against Ireland and are boosted by the return of Ospreys flanker Will Jones, who captains the side.

“It’s been a boost to the side to have the experience of someone like Will Jones back, having captained the U20s very well last year,” said head coach Jason Strange.

“He and Reuben Morgan-Williams have acquitted themselves very well at senior level with Ospreys this season, and they’re proof of how valuable the U20 pathway is.

“The fact that a lot of these boys have been playing regional rugby lately is beneficial on a number of levels, to themselves but also for the team as a whole and the experience they bring back into the U20s environment.

“The players have been working extremely hard as a group over the past few weeks, and we’ve exposed 32 different players to international rugby at U20 level, which is incredibly positive. Our ability to rotate the squad is reflected in our selection for Italy.”

The Italians have suffered three defeats in the championship but Strange is not taking their guests lightly.

“We played them twice last year and both games were very tough,” said the former fly-half.

“In fact, we only beat them by a point in the World Rugby U20 Championships – in a tournament where they beat Ireland – so we need to carry the good form we showed in Dublin a fortnight ago into Friday night’s game.”

Wales U20 team to face Italy: 15 Cai Evans (Ospreys) 14 Joe Goodchild (Dragons) 13 Corey Baldwin (Scarlets) 12 Callum Carson (Ospreys) 11 Tommy Rogers (Scarlets) 10 Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues) 9 Harri Morgan (Ospreys) 1 Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues) 2 Dewi Lake (Ospreys) 3 Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets) 4 Owen Lloyd (Cardiff Blues) 5 Max Williams (Dragons) 6 James Botham (Cardiff Blues) 7 Will Jones (captain, Ospreys) 8 Taine Basham (Dragons).

Replacements: 16 Iestyn Harris (Cardiff Blues) 17 Jordan Walters* (Ospreys) 18 Rhys Henry (Ospreys) 19 Alun Lawrence* (Cardiff Blues) 20 Lennon Greggains* (Dragons) 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys) 22 Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues) 23 Rio Dyer (Dragons)