BACK row forward Taine Basham drops down to the Dragons' Celtic Cup team for tomorrow's clash with Ulster in Ystrad Mynach (kick-off 3pm).

The Wales under-20s international featured for the seniors against the Scarlets last weekend but is included alongside his fellow young guns for the fixture with the Ravens.

Basham is one of those looking to give director of rugby Dean Ryan some food for thought ahead of next Saturday's Guinness PRO14 opener at Munster.

Will Talbot-Davies, a try scorer against the Scarlets, is selected at full-back while Arwel Robson starts at fly-half with Jacob Botica on the bench.

Wales international Sam Davies will start in the PRO14 opener at Thomond Park but the back-up role is up for grabs given that Josh Lewis has not featured in pre-season.

Loosehead Jack Cosgrove, a summer signing from Worcester, and Wales sevens international and flanker Ben Roach provide some experience up front as the Dragons XV aim to return to winning ways.

After being edged out at Connacht in the opener they hammered Munster A in round two but lost derby battles with Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets.

Skipper Roach said: "We've enjoyed good spells in all our Celtic Cup games this season and shown a positive intent to play a fast and attacking game.

"All the games in this competition tend to be tight affairs and, unfortunately, we know we've fallen the wrong side in the last few games.

"However, the attitude in the group has been fantastic and, with three games left in the competition, we're determined to keep progressing, moving forward and enjoy a positive end to the competition."

Wales Under-20s centre Aneurin Owen is included after being given a taste of senior rugby last weekend. His midfield partner Connor Edwards has scored four tries in three Celtic Cup outings this season.

Daf Buckland gets the nod ahead of Dan Babos at scrum-half while lock Ben Carter, who captained the Dragons Under-18s to the WRU Regional Championship last season, is among the replacements.

Ulster suffered their first defeat of the tournament against Irish rivals Leinster last week.

They make six changes to their XV with five of those up front, where prop Andy Warwick provides some experience.

Ulster won last season's meeting between the sides 27-19 in Ballymena.

Dragons XV: W Talbot-Davies, R Dyer, C Edwards, A Owen, J Goodchild, A Robson, D Buckland, J Cosgrove, E Shipp, C Coleman, E Scragg, M Williams, B Fry, B Roach (captain), T Basham.

Replacements: W Griffiths, J Reynolds, L Yendle, B Carter, G Price, D Babos, J Botica, C Penny.

Ulster A: E McIlroy, L Pollock, R Adair, H Hyde, G Curtis, B Houston, N Doak, C Reid, T Stewart, A Warwick, JJ McKee, J Regan, A Hall, M Agnew, D McCann (captain).

Replacements: Z McCall, T O’Hagan, P Mullen, J Dunleavy, A Allison, L Finlay, B Power, C Rankin.