RICHARD Hibbard hopes that the Dragons will rise to the standards of excellence expected by their returning Grand Slam winners at the Ospreys this afternoon.

The former Lions hooker is joined in the XV in Swansea (kick-off 3pm) by back row forwards Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright, who played in every game of Wales' Six Nations clean sweep, plus wing Hallam Amos, who came off the bench in Italy.

Tighthead Leon Brown, an unused member of Warren Gatland's squad, starts for the first time since suffering a broken thumb in December, although lock Cory Hill (ankle) and hooker Elliot Dee (ribs) miss out.

Hibbard was a member of the 2012 Grand Slam side and helped win the title with the 30-3 destruction of England the following year and knows from experience that his teammates will relish their Dragons return at the Liberty Stadium.

"You want to go back and do well for your club. The boys are chomping at the bit to get back," said Hibbard, who won 38 caps and started all three Tests for the Lions when they beat Australia in 2013.

"Because they are used to such a high standard during the Six Nations, even if they bring us up by five per cent then it's a good thing.

"They know what excellent looks like and it will be good for them to lead by example."

That, of course, also applies for the Ospreys who boast Grand Slam winners Justin Tipuric, Adam Beard, Nicky Smith, Aled Davies and Owen Watkin in their XV.

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But today's hosts fielded a stronger side featuring Alun Wyn Jones, George North and Scott Williams when beaten 23-22 in Newport after Christmas.

"Getting a double and an away win would be amazing. In December our physicality was good and we closed the game out, whereas we have stumbled at times this year," said Hibbard, a replacement when the Dragons ended a four-year derby drought.

"We need more of the same because we know exactly what threats they have got and where they will come at us. It's about dealing with that and having massive physicality for the full 80 minutes."

Today is a first return to Swansea for Hibbard, an Ospreys great after making 175 appearances for the region and winning four titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup.

"It's my first time back. I have played them a couple of times since leaving but this will be first time at the Liberty and it will be interesting," said Hibbard, who left for Gloucester in 2014 and signed for the Dragons last summer.

"I am sure a flood of old memories will come back, good times and not so good times. It should be a good occasion.

"I remember the drubbing of the Scarlets (60-17 in 2010) when there had been a kerfuffle the day before with pipes being frozen. There were lots of highs and not so many lows to be fair."