Centre of attention

Dragons coach Paul Turner has picked him at inside centre against the English giants - tickets are selling fast and a 7,000 crowd is expected - rather than the outside half position he has occupied for most of his career.

But after one or two kicking problems he was identified more as a playmaking type of inside centre by Wales coach Mike Ruddock.

That was the role he occupied with Wales on their summer tour to North America, playing there in both Tests against America and Canada with considerable success, though ironically he kicked all 11 conversions in the record 77-3 victory over the United States.

And even this week Sweeney has received the backing of Ruddock who has admitted he is the front runner for the role in the Autumn internationals in the absence of Gavin Henson, recuperating from a groin operation.

The selection of Sweeney at 12 for the Dragons means that two more recognised inside centres with the region, Jon Bryant and Sione Tuipulotu, both have to be content with a place on the bench.

Sweeney plays alongside Craig Warlow, who is the outside half against Leicester and is also likely to be handed the place kicking role.

But British Lion Gareth Cooper doesn't make the final 22 after all because it has been decided to give him one more week to fully recover from his ankle operation rather than take any risks.

The only other change in the back division is on the left wing where in the continuing absence of Nathan Brew and Richard Fussell, Ben Breeze is recalled in place of Leigh Hinton.

But Hinton is on standby if full back Kevin Morgan has to withdraw. He visits a neurologist at Morriston Hospital tomorrow as a final check after a late tac kle by Ulster flanker Neil Best.

"I was spaced out and didn't know what happened. I did have a bit of a headache, but once I came round and had a check on my neck I knew I'd be fine," said Morgan.

He is expected to be given the all-clear, but if he isn't, Tuipulotu is expected to play there with Hinton a replacement.

There are four changes up front, the most notable being the return of British Lions number eight Michael Owen.

"I can't wait to get back, I want to play well for the Dragons. I know they've lost three games in a row which is not good, but we are building things and coming together," he said.

With Steve Jones and Kieran Crawford ruled out, the hooker will be Newport's Andrew Brown, teammate Leighton Jones on the bench. Both were involved in intensive line-out practice yesterday.

Luke Charteris is out after aggravating calf and groin injuries against Ulster and injuring a knee, though Peter Sidoli is fit to return after his elbow problem.

Andrew Hall plays at blind side where his line-out ability has edged him ahead of Richard Bryan and Jamie Ringer.

Dragons team: K Morgan, G Wyatt, H Luscombe, C Sweeney, B Breeze, C Warlow, G Baber, A Black, A Brown, R Thomas, I Gough, P Sidoli, A Hall, M Owen, J Forster (captain). Replacements: S Tuipulotu, J Bryant, J Ireland, D Maddocks, L Jones, R Bryan, J Ringer. Kick off 7.10pm.