GAVIN Henson will make his first outing in a Dragons jersey in tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against Montpellier in Aveyron.

The 35-year-old former Wales and Lions star, who signed from Bristol on a two-year deal this summer, lines up at fly-half for the clash with the Top 14 big guns (kick-off 7pm).

Hallam Amos makes his first appearance since suffering a shoulder injury attempting to score for Wales against Australia last autumn while his fellow wing Ashton Hewitt, who hasn't played since New Year's Day because of concussion, is among the replacements.

New boss Bernard Jackman has been forced to divide his squad as the Dragons travel to take on Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

That means the likes of Cory Hill, Tyler Morgan, Rynard Landman, Gerard Ellis and Tavis Knoyle travel back to the UK for the date with the Saints.

While the Dragons are heading onto the field for the first time this summer, Montpellier blew away some cobwebs against French rivals Lyon last weekend.

They lost 40-12 and head coach Vern Cotter will be looking to step things up ahead of their Top 14 opener against Agen on Saturday, August 26.

The former Scotland boss is able to field a formidable side despite having a sizeable list of absentees that includes high-profile summer recruit Aaron Cruden.

The All Black and Springbok Jan Serfontein have not yet arrived in France while also missing are powerhouse number eight Louis Picamoles following his move from Northampton, wings Nemani Nadolo and Benjamin Fall, Aussie full-back Jesse Mogg, France centre Alexandre Dumoulin and Les Bleus flanker Yacouba Camara.

Nonetheless, they boast the likes of Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Steyn, Fulgence Ouedraogo and Joe Tomane in their XV with former Ulster favourite, an ex-South Africa half-back, Ruan Pienaar on the bench.

Montpellier: J Michel, J Tomane, Y Reilhac, H Immelman, G Ngandebe, F Steyn, B Paillaugue, G Fichten, B Du Plessis, A Guillamon, P Willemse, N Van Rensberg, F Ouedraogo (captain), W Liebenberg, M Devergie. Replacements: C Geli, Y Watremez, K Mikautadze, K Kornath, R Pienaar, T Darmon, M Haouas, M Nariashvili, J Delannoy, G Galletier

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hughes, S Beard, J Dixon, H Amos, G Henson, S Pretorius, T Davies, E Dee, L Fairbrother, M Screech, A Sweet, J Thomas, J Benjamin, H Keddie. Replacements: R Buckley, P Price, L Brown, M Williams, N Cudd, C Davies, A O'Brien, P Howard, A Hewitt, W Talbot-Davies

Players from France training squad not included against Montpellier: J Rosser, G Gasson, A Warren, T Morgan, D Jones, T Knoyle, L Garrett, G Ellis, L Belcher, D Suter, C Hill, J Davies, R Landman, O Griffiths, R Blake.