NEWPORT Gwent Dragons fly-half Dorian Jones will make his first appearance of the season when he returns to Cross Keys colours in the Principality Premiership this afternoon.

The 23-year-old missed the start of the season because of a groin problem that troubled him in the latter stages of 2015/16.

Today's fixture against Swansea is the next stage of his comeback with Jones being named among the replacements for the Pandy Park clash.

The fly-half played for Keys between 2012 and 2014 after moving from Ebbw Vale and will hope to show the sort of form that caught the eye to earn a professional deal.

Jones will also be under pressure when he comes off the bench courtesy of his older brother's exploits; Geraint Rhys Jones produced an excellent performance when scoring 18 points in last week's win against Neath.

He was promoted to the Dragons' bench in Treviso so Josh Prosser returns to 10 with Wales 7s international Ethan Davies slotting in at full-back against the All Whites, who have suffered three losses on their return to the Premiership.

Ebbw Vale got the defence of their title up and running with a 33-17 win against Newport last weekend and will hope for a second home win on the spin against Bridgend.

The champions, whose round two reunion with last season's runners-up Pontypridd was postponed because the new Sardis Road plastic pitch was not ready, did the double over the Ravens last year with a 20-8 away victory followed by a 40-30 triumph at Eugene Cross Park.

Ebbw give a start to Rory Pitman at number eight against his former side in the absence of Harri Keddie, who was on Dragons duty in Treviso last night. They continue with two playmakers with Dai Langdon at 12 outside fly-half Josh Lewis.

Bedwas sit fourth in the table after making a fine start to the season with away victories at Newport and Merthyr plus a losing bonus point from a fixture with Pontypridd that could have gone either way.

Steve Law's side should make it three from four and get off the mark at Bridge Field when they host stuggling Neath, who they doubled last year.

The Welsh All Blacks are sure to react to their poor display at Keys but Bedwas will expect to strengthen their burgeoning bid for the top half.

Wing Tom Prydie is replaced by fellow Dragons wing George Gasson after playing two fixtures on his return from ruptured knee ligaments. The Rodney Parade region's mobile hooker Darran Harris is poised for a club bow but must be content with a place on the bench as Alun Rees' back-up.

Bargoed got up and running with a fine victory against fellow promoted side Swansea last weekend and will need to be on their game against in-form Aberavon.

The Bulls triumphed at the Talbot Athletic Ground in the Swalec Cup in 2012 and will be hoping to repeat the trick against a Wizards side who are three from three.

Lee Beach is back in the Bargoed side at number eight with Leigh Meades coming in at hooker and captaining the side.

Newport will hope to repeat last season's excellent win in Llanelli when they travel to Parc y Scarlets tomorrow.

The Black and Ambers have had a sticky start to the campaign and lamented errors at key times that saw them slip to defeat in Ebbw Vale, a third loss after being edged out by Cardiff and beaten at home by Bedwas.

Dragons academy props Keagan Bale and Chris Coleman get starts while there is rotation in the back row with Kyle Tayler and Rhodri Jones getting the nod.

Elliot Frewen, Wes Cunliffe and Llywarch Ap Myrddin all scored in last season's correspeonding fixture and will hope for plenty of running opportunities in the back three.

Cross Keys (v Swansea): E Davies, M Powell, L Andrews, N Williams, J Unwin, J Prosser, O Leonard, L Smout, E Shipp, R Cornock, D Hodge, T Lampard, J Skinner, S Matthews (captain), I Jones. Replacements: D Hughes, G Price-Jones, G Carpenter, S Williams, A Powell, D Jones, J Leadbeater, P Uhi

Ebbw Vale (v Bridgend): D Haymond, C Levesley, N Preece, D Langdon, J Rosser, J Lewis, C Thomas, I George, J Franchi, R Sevenoaks, D Hudd (captain), J Jacas, R Clarke, R Kynes, R Pitman.

Bedwas (v Neath): A Bramwell, G Gasson, C Edwards, JS Dixon, P Lewis, R Powell (captain), L Crane, B Toms, A Rees, M Pettit, J Davies, T Bell, J Richards, G Lee, R Blake. D Preece, D Harris, R Hutcherson, G Edmunds, D Crimmins, N Griffiths, J Dixon, P Pariyo

Bargoed (at Aberavon): J Purcell, L Hudd, A Norton, G Callow, D Evans, C Jones, R Morgan, L Meades (captain), J Williams, J Locke, B Morgan, A Coupe, G Rogers, L Beach. Replacements: I Jenkins, A Lott, L Lippiett, L Blacker, G McDonnell, J Pizey, L Bowden, L Smalley

Newport (at Llanelli, Sunday): L Ap Myrddin, W Cunliffe, C Smith, T Pascoe, E Frewen, M O'Brien, R James, K Bale, H Palmer, C Coleman, A Brown (captain), D Partridge, R Jones, K Tayler, B Lampitt. Replacements: E Whitson, J Lavender, G Harris, R Tucker, C Attwell, O Davies, A Robson, O Williams.

Other fixtures: Cardiff v Llandovery, Carmarthen Quins v RGC 1404, Pontypridd v Merthyr