LEWIS Evans returns to the Newport Gwent Dragons back row for Sunday’s Guinness Pro12 derby against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

The influential back row forward missed last week’s disappointing 11-9 derby loss to Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade because of neck and wrist injuries but returns for the trip west.

He replaces blindside James Thomas and combines with Nic Cudd and Taulupe Faletau in the back row.

The only other change sees Jonathan Evans replace Richie Rees at scrum-half while hooker Rhys Buckley is poised for a first regional appearance of the season after making a fast recovery from a operation following a torn pectoral muscle to earn a place on the bench.

Wales blindside Dan Lydiate will play against his former region for the first time and is joined in the Ospreys’ starting line-up by fellow ex-Dragons Dan Evans, Richard Fussell and Sam Parry at full-back, wing and hooker respectively.

Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar are reunited at half-back after the former missed the derby defeat to the Scarlets in Llanelli.

Ospreys: D Evans, R Fussell, A Beck, J Matavesi, E Walker, D Biggar, R Webb, D Jones, S Parry, D Arhip, J King, A W Jones (captain), D Lydiate, J Tipuric, T Ardron. Replacements: S Baldwin, G Thomas, A Jarvis, R Bernardo, S Lewis, M Roberts, S Davies, H Dirksen.

Dragons: T Prydie, M Pewtner, T Morgan, J Dixon, H Amos, J Tovey, J Evans, P Price, E Dee, B Harris, A Coombs, R Landman (captain), L Evans, N Cudd, T Faletau. Replacements: R Buckley, O Evans, L Fairbrother, M Screech, J Thomas, R Rees, D Jones, G R Jones.