RICHARD Parks returns to action for Newport Gwent Dragons tonight charged with keeping danger man Marty Holah quiet in the Magners League derby against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.
Openside flanker Parks has been confined to just two appearances since Christmas because of a knee injury initially suffered against rivals Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day.
He came back against Ulster and Edinburgh, but the problem flared up again. Now he's firing again for a big game in which he will hope to stake a belated claim for a place on Wales' tour to South Africa.
Parks still harbours ambitions of regaining a place in the Wales squad and an impressive performance against All Black Holah, a key member of a terrific Ospreys back row, will help.
Making way for Parks in a Dragons team showing five changes, one positional, from the side badly beaten by Connacht is Wales number eight Michael Owen, who is confined to a place on the bench.
Joe Bearman switches from openside to number eight, and in other changes up front Andrew Hall steps in at lock for the unwell Adam Jones and Ben Daly replaces Steve Jones at hooker.
The only change in the back division is at full back where Kevin Morgan reclaims his place from Martyn Thomas who suffered a broken jaw against Connacht.
The Dragons will come up against Wales lock Ian Gough for the first time since he left them at the end of last season and he warns his new team not to underestimate his old one.
Gough said: "I'm sure it'll be a bit strange going up against so many familiar faces, but it's always the case in Welsh rugby that you're playing against friends and ex-teammates so it's not unique."
"I had a very happy four or five years there, but that won't matter as it's an important match we both want to win.
"From my time at the Dragons, I know the Ospreys is a match they target, one they're always up for.
"They'll be strong and physical, so we know the challenge for us is to make sure we play how we want to and that we impose our game on them."
The Dragons' rearranged home game against the Ospreys is fixed for Tuesday, May 6, and means they have a ridiculous schedule, playing Leinster away, the Ospreys home and Leinster again, at home, in the space of six days.
Dragons: K Morgan, G Wyatt, P Emerick, R Davies, R Mustoe, C Sweeney, A Williams, A Black, B Daly, R Morgan, A Hall, L Charteris, C Charvis (captain), J Bearman, R Parks. Replacements: S Jones, L Harrison, M Owen, L Evans, A Thomas/J Tovey, P Dollman, W Evans.
Ospreys: L Byrne, J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop, S Williams, J Hook, J Marshall, P James, R Hibbard, A Jones, I Gough, A W Jones, F Tiatia, R Jones (captain), M Holah. Replacements: H Bennett, D Jones, I Evans, J Thomas, G Owen, J Spratt, A Brew. Kick off 7.35pm.
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