LUKE Charteris makes his first start of the season for Newport Gwent Dragons in their big all-Welsh Celtic League clash against champions the Ospreys at the New Stadium, Swansea, tomorrow night.

The 6ft 10in giant has been groomed for stardom by the Wales management, but has yet to take off, partly because he has rarely been a regular either for the Dragons or Wales.

Now he gets a new start under a new coach for the Dragons, Paul Turner putting him in against the league champions, who will be smarting from their 37-10 hiding at the hands of Munster on Saturday night.

Charteris is drafted in at the expense of Peter Sidoli who started against Glasgow and he will partner Ian Gough, who has started the season with a bang.

Also making the starting line-up after missing out in the opening league match against Glasgow is blindside flanker Jamie Ringer.

He replaces Andrew Hall, who started against his former team and now features on the bench although the replacements will not be named until after training tonight.

The only definite change in the back division is on the left wing where Ben Breeze is recalled with Richard Fussell ruled out for six weeks after damaging a shoulder in Scotland.

But the Dragons have named eight backs because they are not sure about Ceri Sweeney. They have bracketed him with Craig Warlow at outside half, but Sweeney is also in the running to play at inside centre this season.

He featured there for Wales on their summer tour to North America and is being advocated as a possible replacement for the stricken Gavin Henson whose groin injury could rule him out of the November internationals after an operation by a German specialist on Friday.

The Dragons will choose their replacements against the Ospreys from 11 players, with scrum half James Ireland and hooker Steve Jones both close to a full return after injuries.

Both had minor knee operations during the summer and Wales Under-21s cap Ireland is set to be on the bench, Jones possibly waiting a little longer, especially with a second away game this week against Leinster on Friday night

Dragons (from): K Morgan, G Wyatt, H Luscombe, J Bryant, B Breeze, C Sweeney, C Warlow, G Baber, A Black, K Crawford, R Thomas, I Gough, L Charteris, J Ringer, R Bryan, J Forster (captain). Replacements (from) L Hinton, S Tuipulotu, A Thomas, J Ireland, S Jones, G Robinson, D Maddocks, A Hall, P Sidoli, R Oakley, R Dale. Kick-off 7.35pm.