THOMAS Davies is determined to show that he deserves to be given the 1 jersey more frequently next season when he starts for Newport Gwent Dragons against Edinburgh this evening.

The 24-year-old will make his first start in the Guinness PRO12 since the second week of the campaign when he takes to the field at Myreside (kick-off 7.35pm).

Davies, who arrived last summer from Cardiff Blues, has made 17 appearances but started on just three occasions – against Zebre in September, Brive in the European Challenge Cup in October and Newcastle in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in January.

It hasn’t stopped him enjoying life at Rodney Parade but next season he wants to be more than just back-up to Sam Hobbs or Phil Price.

“I’d like to have played a lot more and my appearances have mainly been off the bench. Next year I’d like to up my starts,” he admitted.

“Being a sub is an important role now but everybody wants that starting jersey. It’s important to be in the 23 week in, week out because you learn a lot more playing professional rugby than in the Principality Premiership but the more starts the more you get used to the speed of the game.

“I’ve had a couple of weeks where I’ve been disappointed not to be involved but you want the team to do the best they can. I just want as many chances as I can get and to then grab them with both hands.”

He followed Hobbs east from the capital and is gracious about his teammate’s dominance of the starting berth – “he has been a great signing with strong performances and deserves to be number one” – but a back injury has opened the door for Davies to earn a crack at his old team in Caerphilly.

“I’d love to get the nod against the Blues next weekend but I’m just grateful for this chance and the opportunity to get stuck in,” said the former Wales Under-20s international.

“I am really looking forward to it and hopefully we can get that elusive away win.”

Head coach Kingsley Jones makes four other changes to the XV that put in a plucky performance in the 21-16 defeat to the Scarlets at Judgement Day a fortnight ago.

Centre Jack Dixon and wing Pat Howard come in for Tyler Morgan (ribs) and Adam Warren (toe) respectively while up front there are starts for hooker Rhys Thomas and tighthead Brok Harris.

The back row is unchanged, although Ollie Griffiths has been named at number eight with Lewis Evans blindside, while 19-year-old scrum-half Owain Leonard is poised for a debut off the bench.

Ninth-placed Edinburgh, who head into the game with a two-point lead over the Dragons, select former Rodney Parade favourite Jason Tovey at fly-half.

The Scots have lost their last eight in the PRO12 while the Dragons haven’t won since beating Enisei-STM in the Challenge Cup on January 16.

Kingsley Jones’ side need to win to avoid an away whitewash in all competitions in 2016/17.

Edinburgh: G Bryce, D Hoyland, C Dean, J Rasolea, R Scholes, J Tovey, N Fowles, A Dell, G Turner, S Berghan, G Gilchrist (captain), B Toolis, V Mata, H Watson, C Du Preez. Replacements: R Ford, M McCallum, K Bryce, F McKenzie, J Hardie, S Hidalgo-Clyne, D Weir, B Kinghorn.

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hughes, S Beard, J Dixon, P Howard, A O’Brien, C Davies, T Davies, R Thomas, B Harris, M Screech, C Hill, L Evans (captain), N Cudd, O Griffiths. Replacements: R Buckley, P Price, C Mitchell, R Landman, H Keddie, O Leonard, GR Jones, T Prydie.

Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)