THE highly-anticipated showdown between Wales hopefuls Ashton Hewitt and Keelan Giles won't take place at Rodney Parade today but the Newport Gwent Dragons winger will still get the chance to show that he is no soft touch in defence.

The 22-year-old from Newport is hitting his straps after recovering from the shoulder injury that ended his fine 2015/16 season and hindered his start of the current campaign.

Hewitt was a menace with ball in hand in the Boxing Day defeat at Cardiff Blues and scored his fifth try of the season but was frustrated with the error in defence he made in the opening stages.

The speedster slipped off a tackle to allow home fly-half Steven Shingler to score the opening try, a rare defensive lapse by the 5ft 11ins, 13st 5lbs Hewitt.

"I think that was about the first tackle that Ashton has missed all season," said coach Shaun Connor. "Tackling is definitely not a weakness for him and he definitely hits above his weight.

"Ashton has been one of the form wingers in Wales over the last 18 months or so and is getting better and better, he just works so hard.

"One of his weaknesses was his aerial game and kicking but not anymore. He is becoming a much better all-round player."

Hewitt will be going head-to-head with Dafydd Howells, 21, rather than Giles after the Ospreys decided to give a breather to their teenage sensation.

The 18-year-old has crossed for 11 tries in eight regional appearances – included scoring a brace when the Dragons headed west in October – and was an unused replacement when Wales edged out Japan in the autumn.

The 14 jersey goes to fellow promising flyer Howells, who was capped on the summer tour to face the Brave Blossoms in 2013.

The Dragons have tinkered with their tight five after losing 27-16 in the capital with Wales lock Cory Hill the sole survivor in the boilerhouse.

Nick Crosswell comes into the second row for Rynard Landman while there is a new front row of Phil Price, Elliot Dee and Brok Harris.

The back row is unchanged despite the swift turnaround while there are two changes in the three-quarters with centre Sam Beard and full-back Carl Meyer coming in.

The Dragons, who have their team run tomorrow, name fly-half Dorian Jones among the replacements after he returned from a groin injury for Ebbw Vale at Bedwas in the Premiership.

The Ospreys have an even shorter turnaround from their derby win against the Scarlets on Tuesday but retain Wales stars Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar, Justin Tipuric and Sam Davies.

The visitors include Dan Evans on the wing and his fellow former Dragon Sam Parry, a hooker, is among the bench where he is joined by five more forwards.

The Ospreys have won 27 of their last 29 derbies but are taking nothing for granted.

"The Dragons have been in decent shape and always provide a challenge," said coach Steve Tandy.

"There'll be a big crowd and an atmosphere to match so it'll be another real test for us as a group."

Dragons: C Meyer, P Howard, T Morgan, S Beard, A Hewitt, A O'Brien, T Knoyle, P Price, E Dee, B Harris, N Crosswell, C Hill, L Evans (captain), O Griffiths, E Jackson. Replacements: R Buckley, S Hobbs, L Fairbrother, M Screech, R Landman, S Pretorius, D Jones, A Warren

Ospreys: S Davies, D Howells, K Fonotia, J Matavesi, D Evans, D Biggar, T Habberfield, P James, S Baldwin, M Fia, L Ashley, AW Jones (captain), O Cracknell, J Tipuric, J King. Replacements: S Parry, N Smith, R Jones, R Thornton, D Baker, S Underhill, B Leonard, H Dirksen.

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)