OLLIE Griffiths has been backed to take his stunning Newport Gwent Dragons form onto the Test stage by making a big impact when he wins his first cap for Wales against Tonga on Friday (kick-off 6.30am).

The 22-year-old from Newbridge has to be content with a place on the bench for the international in Auckland after acting head coach Robin McBryde plumped for Cardiff Blues' Josh Navidi at number eight.

However, the boss has previously expressed his admiration for the young Dragon's dynamism and is set to unleash him in the second half of the Test at the famous Eden Park.

Griffiths, who has a preference for openside flanker but can play across the back row, enjoyed a superb 2016/17 despite the Dragons' struggles in the Guinness PRO12 and figured near the top of the charts for tackles and turnovers.

He swept the board at the region's end-of-season awards night and is being backed to grasp his international opportunity by Dragons teammate Cory Hill.

"Ollie has settled in really well," said the lock, who will win his sixth cap in Auckland.

"He is obviously a quality player with so many attributes, so it's just about coming in and bringing them to a different environment while learning new things.

"He takes things on board pretty well and I am sure he will rise to the challenge. He wants to get out there to show what he can do.

"Ollie is a powerful specimen who does his hard work in the gym – you can see that just looking at him! – and he is a big ball-carrying, physical back rower who can play all three positions.

"He was incredible for us last season and it was no surprise that he won all of the Dragons awards, it was fully deserved because it was a breakthrough season for him and he was quality for us.

"We've got four boys [from the back row] with the Lions but still have so many quality players with even the likes of James Davies not involved on tour.

"But Ollie deserved his call-up, he has shown his qualities in training and hopefully he'll now get a cap under his belt."

Wales have opted against putting a specialist lock on the bench to accommodate their glut of back row talent with Ellis Jenkins surprisingly joining Griffiths on the bench, uncapped Wasps openside Thomas Young getting the 7 jersey.

In-form Scarlets blindside Aaron Shingler will be the cover for Hill and uncapped Blues lock/blindside Seb Davies.