TAULUPE Faletau returns to the Newport Gwent Dragons starting XV for Sunday’s clash with Guinness Pro12 champions Leinster at Rodney Parade.

The Wales number eight started last weekend’s European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final win against Cardiff Blues on the bench, as did openside Nic Cudd.

However, the pair slot into the back row alongside Nick Crosswell for the Leinster encounter with James Thomas moving forward to lock and James Benjamin named among the replacements.

Director of rugby Lyn Jones has been true to his word and fields his first team despite the semi-final against Edinburgh at Murrayfield looming.

Tyler Morgan replaces Pat Leach in midfield but other than that he sticks with the side that have beaten Ulster, Treviso and Cardiff Blues.

Loosehead Luke Garrett is rewarded for a series of impressive performances for Wales Under-20s and Cross Keys with a place on the bench while Matthew Screech covers lock.

“We’ve got to use Leinster in a five-day turnaround as a really good training session, incorporating it in our preparation for Edinburgh,” said Jones earlier this week.

“We’ve got our feet firmly on the floor. We quickly put the Blues to bed, we enjoyed the moment but our thoughts turned directly to Leinster on Monday.

“European rugby is nice and we will think about that next week but now it’s about Leinster and we are not in the position where we can rest players."

Leinster’s matchday squad includes 12 of the 23 that were on duty against Bath in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup last weekend.

With a huge game against Toulon in Marseille looming, coach Matt O’Connor opts to leave out Ireland stars Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien, Rob Kearney, Ian Madigan, Devin Toner, Mike Ross and Sean Cronin.

However, they can ill afford to slip up at Rodney Parade in the battle for the playoffs and still boast a side with plenty of experience and class in the shape of Gordon D’Arcy, Eoin Reddan, Shane Jennings, Dave Kearney, Jimmy Gopperth and Zane Kirchner They boast a powerful tight five of Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss, Martin Moore, Ben Marshall and Mike McCarthy.

Dragons: J Tovey, T Prydie, T Morgan, J Dixon, H Amos, D Jones, J Evans, P Price, R Thomas (captain), B Harris, J Thomas, C Hill, N Crosswell, N Cudd, T Faletau. Replacements: R Buckley, L Garrett, D Way, M Screech, J Benjamin, L Jones, P Leach, G R Jones.

Leinster: Z Kirchner, D Kearney, B Te’o, G D’Arcy, D Fanning, J Gopperth, E Reddan, J McGrath, R Strauss, M Moore, B Marshall, M McCarthy, D Ryan, S Jennings (captain), J Conan. Replacements: A Dundon, M Bent, T Furlong, R Molony, J Murphy, L McGrath, N Reid, L Fitzgerald.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)