NEWPORT Gwent Dragons must produce a herculean effort if they are to dine out on a rare away win against miserly RaboDirect Pro12 title hopefuls Glasgow this evening (kick-off 7.35pm).

Gregor Townsend's side sit second in the table thanks to a mean streak that has seen them concede just 87 points and three tries in seven league games.

Their average points conceded tally of 12.4 per fixture is comfortably the lowest in the three frontline European leagues of the RaboDirect Pro12, Aviva Premiership and Top 14 ahead of Ulster (14), Harlequins (14.3) and Toulouse (16.9).

Eleven of Glasgow's players are absent because of Scotland's Test against Australia but the Dragons are still outsiders for the clash at Scotstoun Stadium.

The Rodney Parade region have lost all six of their away games this season and have not won on their travels since beating Zebre in Parma last February.

"When I was last involved in this league Glasgow and Ulster were mid to bottom of the table teams," said former Ospreys boss Jones, who joined the Dragons this summer.

"They have turned things around and Glasgow have done that with some excellent signings and by improving their defence.

"They have gone away from a buffet defence, where you could help yourself, to being incredibly solid.

"This will be a real test for the boys, we have seen a lot of improvement but Glasgow away is now as tough as it gets."

Jones has made 11 changes to the XV that beat London Wasps in the LV= Cup last weekend but 21-year-old lock Cory Hill is retained after an impressive debut while openside Nic Cudd returns after six weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

The regulars are back with flanker Lewis Evans, hooker Sam Parry, loosehead Owen Evans scrum-half Richie Rees, fly-half Jason Tovey and midfield pair Ross Wardle and Pat Leach starting after being rested for the Anglo-Welsh tournament.

Tovey will be charged with unlocking the Glasgow defence and keeping the scoreboard ticking with his left boot.

"Glasgow present a massive challenge," said the 24-year-old. "They look to put teams under pressure and it's up to us to deal with that.

"They are aggressive with their line speed in defence and in attack they have quite a simple game plan but they stick to it well.

"It will be a tough game but we have got to change the mindset and go to places like Glasgow expecting to get a win rather than hoping to get one."

Tonight's hosts are boosted by the return of Lions full-back Stuart Hogg after a six-week absence with a wrist injury.

Glasgow: S Hogg, B McGuigan, DTH van der Merwe, F Russell, N Matawalu, S Wight, H Pyrgos, G Reid, D Hall, E Kalman, T Ryder, A Kellock, R Harley, C Fusaro, R Vernon. Replacements: G Hunter, F Brown, J Welsh, L Nakarawa, J Strauss, J Eddie, J Steele, M Bennett/R Hughes.

Dragons: D Evans, W Harries, P Leach, R Wardle, M Pewtner, J Tovey, R Rees, O Evans, S Parry, F Chaparro, C Hill, R Sidoli (captain), L Evans, N Cudd, N Talei. Replacements: E Dee, A Coundley, D Way, M Screech, I Jones, W Evans, S Jones, A Smith.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)