SAMOA lock Brandon Nansen will look to channel his World Cup frustration when he makes his Dragons return against the Scarlets tomorrow.

The 25-year-old forward will make his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in January's Guinness PRO14 derby in Llanelli.

Nansen, capped three times, had been hoping to be in Japan but failed to make Samoa's squad and returned to the Dragons for pre-season.

Wales tighthead Leon Brown also missed out on the World Cup and was back in Ystrad Mynach this week.

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The prop, who won his sixth cap against Ireland a fortnight ago, is on the bench for the Scarlets friendly, which kicks off at 4pm after the Celtic Cup fixture between the regions at 1pm.

Wing Ashton Hewitt starts after 16 months out with a shoulder injury while loosehead Brok Harris, hooker Richard Hibbard and number eight Lewis Evans get their first run outs of the season in the XV.

Rhodri Williams captains the side from scrum-half and his back-up Luke Baldwin, on loan from Worcester, is set for his first Dragons outing.

Marquee summer signing Sam Davies starts, Wales Sevens international Owen Jenkins is on the left wing and Taine Basham is on the bench after initially being named in the Celtic Cup team.

Dragons: J Williams, A Hewitt, A Warren, J Dixon, O Jenkins, S Davies, R Williams (captain), B Harris, R Hibbard, L Fairbrother, B Nansen, Screech, H Taylor, O Griffiths, L Evans. Replacements: E Shipp, R Bevington, L Brown, J Davies, T Basham, L Baldwin, J Botica, W Talbot-Davies, A Owen.