Dragons v Cardiff team news as key players return to the fold

The Dragons will welcome back two key players as they bid to finally win at home against a Cardiff side that has yet to triumph away this season.

At the end of another tumultuous week in Welsh rugby, the two sides will go head to head at Rodney Parade this Friday - with little to play for in the URC other than the usual bragging rights that come with Welsh derbies.

And Dean Ryan's team will be boosted by the return of Wales hooker Elliot Dee and centre Jack Dixon, one of their strongest performers this season, to take on Cardiff. They're among three changes made by Ryan for the penultimate game of a woeful season for the Gwent side.

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The other sees back-row Ben Fry come into the starting line-up - days after signing a new contract with the Dragons. On the bench, prop Lloyd Fairbrother is set for his first appearance in a year, while Greg Bateman also returns to the bench to add front-row cover.

For Cardiff, it's an unchanged starting XV to the one that defeated Zebre last time out. Hooker Liam Belcher will mark his 50th first team appearance, while Lloyd Williams moves a step closer to 250 appearances for the Blue and Blacks.

The only change to the match-day squad sees club captain Josh Turnbull return to the bench, having been sidelined with a calf injury since March.

Something will have to give as the Dragons go in search of a first home win of the season, while Cardiff have yet to win on the road. However, Cardiff have won the last 12 meetings between the two sides.

Cardiff director of rugby, Dai Young, said: “We were pleased to secure a bonus-point victory over Zebre last week and we played really well in the first half. In