DAN Evans will make his first start at fly-half for Newport Gwent Dragons in Sunday's LV= Cup game against Northampton at Rodney Parade.

The 25-year-old has scored five tries while making a fine start to his Dragons career since heading east from the Scarlets in the summer but he has played exclusively in the number 15 jersey.

But Evans, capped twice by Wales, has been shifted to fly-half in games and will be given the duty from the off on Sunday.

Wayne Evans makes his first start of the season following back trouble, Ashley Smith skippers the side from midfield while Adam Jones and Rob Sidoli form an experienced second row partnership.

Wales Under-20s prospect Ieuan Jones moves from number eight to blindside after impressing in the defeat to Bath last weekend, allowing in-form Tom Brown to return at the base of the scrum.

Northampton include scrum-half Lee Dickson and flanker Phil Dowson after they were released by England for game time.

Dragons: T Prydie, W Harries, P Leach, A Smith (captain), T Chavhanga, D Evans, W Evans, O Evans, H Gustafson, D Way, A Jones, R Sidoli, I Jones, N Cudd, T Brown. Replacements: S Jones, P Price, N Buck, I Nimmo, L Evans, J Evans, L Robling, J Dixon.

Northampton: T May, K Pisi, D Waldouck, L Burrell, J Elliott, R Lamb, L Dickson, A Waller, M Haywood, P Doran Jones, S Manoa, M Sorenson, C Clark (captain), P Dowson, GJ Van Velze. Replacements: R McMillan, E Waller, B Mujati, R Oakley, B Nutley, M Roberts, S Armstrong, T Collins.