NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have left Taulupe Faletau on the bench for tomorrow’s European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final against Cardiff Blues.

Director of rugby Lyn Jones has opted not to tinker with the side that beat Treviso last weekend, sticking with the in-form back row of James Thomas, James Benjamin and Nick Crosswell with the Wales number eight is joined among the replacements by openside Nic Cudd.

Faletau, who played every minute of Wales' Six Nations campaign, came off the bench in the final quarter of the Dragons' excellent 32-17 win at the Stadio Monigo last Saturday.

Wing/centre Tyler Morgan, so devastating in the European wins against Newcastle and Stade Francais in January, also has to settle for a role as an impact sub with the kicking game of Jason Tovey and Tom Prydie preferred in the back three while Pat Leach’s defensive game gets the nod at outside centre.

Jones hinted on Wednesday that he would resist the temptation to ring the changes despite his selection headaches, stating that he was looking for an impact from his replacements.

"The game is for 23 players not 15," he said. "If you have a really strong bench then you know that you are a difficult side to play against.

"Players come on at 50, 60 minutes and take the game back up to a standard. That will be a factor."

The Blues have opted for Scott Andrews at tighthead with Adam Jones backing him up from the bench while their midfield problems, following Cory Allen’s shoulder injury at Ulster last weekend, sees Argentina international Joaquín Tuculet move to centre with Dan Fish coming in at full-back.

The back row is, as expected, Wales captain Sam Warburton, Josh Turnbull and Josh Navidi but there is a surprise on the bench with Ellis Jenkins preferred to powerful number eight Manoa Vosawai.

Newport Gwent Dragons: J Tovey, T Prydie, P Leach, J Dixon, H Amos, D Jones, J Evans, P Price, R Thomas (captain), B Harris, A Coombs, C Hill, J Thomas, J Benjamin, N Crosswell. Replacements: H Gustafson, L Fairbrother, D Way, T Faletau, N Cudd, L Jones, T Morgan, R Jones.

Cardiff Blues: D Fish, A Cuthbert, J Tuculet, G Evans, R Smith, G Anscombe, L Williams, G Jenkins, M Rees, S Andrews, J Hoeata, L Reed, J Turnbull, S Warburton, J Navidi. Replacements: K Dacey, S Hobbs, A Jones, M Cook E Jenkins, T Knoyle, S Humberstone, G Davies.

Referee: JP Doyle (England)