HEAD coach Kingsley Jones believes freshening up his Newport Gwent Dragons side with hungry players will help them finish a tough Guinness Pro12 campaign with a flourish at Zebre, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Dragons head to the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi looking for just a fifth league win of the season and their first success away from Rodney Parade.

They face a Zebre side who are fuelled by the desire secure Champions Cup rugby by bettering the result of, who travel to title-chasing Leinster, to leapfrog their Italian rivals into 11th place.

Jones has rung the changes after a gruelling month in which the Dragons have played league derbies with the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets plus locked horns with Gloucester and Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup.

There is just one change to the backs – with Geraint Rhys Jones getting a run out at full-back – but six new faces come into the pack.

Hooker Rhys Buckley, tighthead Lloyd Fairbrother, lock Matthew Screech and back row forwards James Thomas, James Benjamin and Ed Jackson all get the chance to impress while Wales Under-20s number eight Harri Keddie is set for a professional debut off the bench.

"There are players in the side who haven't had an opportunity with us keeping the same team in some big games," said Jones.

"A lot of our players are tired – to expect Brok Harris to play a lot of rugby at tighthead, physically and mentally is a big challenge.

"These players in the team are the ones who have been knocking on my door for an opportunity and they have been told this is their chance.

"We really think this is the right group to get us a win and the bench will be very important with the likes of Rynard Landman, Elliot Dee and Sarel Pretorius."

Nick Crosswell captains the side from lock while Adam Warren wears 13 to ensure he has started all 30 games in a remarkable first season in the east after his move from the Scarlets.

Zebre: Team announced at midday.

Dragons: GR Jones, A Hughes, A Warren, J Dixon, H Amos, A O'Brien, C Davies, P Price, R Buckley, L Fairbrother, M Screech, N Crosswell (captain), J Thomas, J Benjamin, E Jackson. Replacements: E Dee, L Garrett, S Knight, R Landman, H Keddie, S Pretorius, D Jones, C Meyer.

Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)