BORIS Stankovich will make his first start for three months for Newport Gwent Dragons against Connacht at Rodney Parade on Sunday (kick-off 4pm).

The 34-year-old loosehead last donned the number 1 jersey against the Ospreys in the LV= Cup in November when he suffered a knee injury.

The former Leicester prop made his return off the bench in the wins against London Welsh and Leinster but returns to the XV for the encounter with a Connacht side that destroyed the Dragons up front last season.

Director of rugby Lyn Jones makes no other changes to the side that stunned Guinness Pro12 champions Leinster on their own patch last weekend but brings loosehead Phil Price back on the bench.

Connacht are without injured All Black Mils Muliaina and Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw.

Dragons: J Tovey, T Prydie, P Leach, J Dixon, H Amos, D Jones, J Evans, B Stankovich, R Thomas, B Harris, A Coombs, R Landman (captain), J Thomas, N Cudd, N Crosswell. Replacements: R Buckley, P Price, D Way, I Gough, J Benjamin, R Rees, A Smith, M Pewtner.

Connacht: D Leader, D Poolman, D McSharry, C Ronaldson, M Healy, J Carty, J Cooney, D Buckley, T McCartney, N White, Q Roux, A Muldowney, J Muldoon (captain), J Heenan, E Masterson. Replacements: S Delahunt, R Ah You, F Bealham, M Kearney, G Naoupu, I Porter, N Adeolokun, T O’Halloran.