LIVEWIRE full-back Jordan Williams will make a sensational return to action after 10 months out in the Dragons' European Challenge Cup quarter-final at Bristol tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

The 26-year-old, arguably the region’s most dangerous runner, hasn’t played since rupturing knee ligaments in the pool stage win against Enisei-STM in Krasnodar last November.

Director of rugby Dean Ryan pledged on Tuesday that he would be “rolling the dice” with his selection: “We might be gambling on some given their lack of rugby but we also have some players who can do some different things”.

That isn’t limited to bringing in Wales internationals Jonah Holmes and Jamie Roberts for debuts after leaving them out of the Guinness PRO14 derbies against the Ospreys and Scarlets.

A bold call has been made with Williams brought straight back into the XV to face his former Bristol teammates, providing the Dragons with a counter-attacking threat against the free-flowing Bears.

The other surprise selection is Harrison Keddie getting the nod ahead of Taine Basham in the back row with the Wales hopeful instead tasked with adding energy from the bench.

Joe Davies wins the nod as Matthew Screech’s second row partner ahead of Joe Maksymiw.

Williams isn’t the only Dragon who could make a surprise return to action – fly-half Josh Lewis is preferred to Arwel Robson as Sam Davies’ back-up.

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Lewis hasn’t played since the Judgement Day win against the Scarlets in April 2019 after suffering a serious knee injury last summer.

He is joined on the bench by tighthead Lloyd Fairbrother, who missed out on the PRO14 derbies, and Luke Baldwin, who edges out Tavis Knoyle to be the replacement scrum-half.

“I don't want to be caught wondering on Saturday morning about what I might have done, I'd rather go into a knockout game and give it a good go," said Ryan on Tuesday.

His selection of livewire Williams shows that.

Bristol go fully-loaded with a side featuring Semi Radradra, Charles Piutau, Kyle Sinckler and Nathan Hughes, captained by inspirational flanker Steven Luatua.

Bristol: C Piutau, L Morahan, S Radradra, P O’Conor, H Purdy, C Sheedy, A Uren, J Woolmore, H Thacker, K Sinckler, D Attwood, C Vui, S Luatua (captain), B Earl, N Hughes. Replacements: W Capon, Y Thomas, J Afoa, J Joyce, D Thomas, H Randall, M Malins, A Leiua

Dragons: J Williams; J Holmes, N Tompkins, J Roberts, A Hewitt, S Davies, R Williams; B Harris, E Dee, L Brown, J Davies, M Screech, A Wainwright, H Keddie, R Moriarty.  Replacements: R Hibbard, J Reynolds, L Fairbrother, J Maksymiw, T Basham, L Baldwin, J Lewis, A Warren.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)