NEWPORT Gwent Dragons speedsters Ashton Hewitt and Tom Prydie will return to action on Sunday when they line up on opposite sides in a Rodney Parade derby.

Wing Hewitt, last season’s Argus Dragon of the year after a breakthrough campaign, is in the Newport squad for the Principality Premiership encounter after recovering from shoulder surgery.

Wales full-back/wing Prydie will feature for Bedwas in his first appearance since suffering a knee injury in the European Rugby Challenge Cup victory against Pau at Rodney Parade last December.

Summer recruit from Northampton Pat Howard and Adam Warren, who started every game in midfield last season, start out wide for the Dragons against Zebre this evening after wearing 11 and 14 in the opening weekend loss to Ulster.

Meanwhile, loosehead Phil Price is due to return to full training soon after summer shoulder surgery. The prop, who had an excellent 2015/16, is expected to be battling Sam Hobbs and Thomas Davies for the 1 jersey soon.

Full-back Carl Meyer is back in training after suffering a blow to the head against Ulster that ruled him out of the Zebre fixture while wing/centre Adam Hughes is following the return-to-play protocols after a head injury against Cardiff Blues in pre-season.

Fly-half Dorian Jones is increasing his workload after suffering a groin problem with the aim of returning to full training shortly while flanker Ollie Griffiths will be back soon after scans on the shoulder injury suffered in Belfast revealed no major damage.

Hooker Elliot Dee and centre Ross Wardle will be out for several months at least after ankle and knee operations respectively.