THE Dragons are boosted by the return of Wales flanker Taine Basham for the United Rugby Championship clash with the Sharks – but have lost influential back rower Harri Keddie.

The Rodney Parade club have made eight changes to the XV that lost to Leinster in Dublin last weekend.

Basham is back for his first appearance of the season and he starts at openside to replace Keddie, who has a back niggle but should be back to face the Lions in round four.

The loss of the versatile back rower, who has been fielded as a destructive 7, is a blow to the hopes of stunning the Sharks but head coach Dai Flanagan can still name a strong trio.

A back row reshuffle sees Shane Lewis-Hughes slot in at blindside with Ryan Woodman dropping to the bench and former Wales and Lions international Dan Lydiate starting with 8 on his back.

There are three more changes in the tight five with props Rhodri Jones and Leon Brown starting along with lock Matthew Screech.

Rhodri Williams gets the nod as starting scrum-half ahead of Dane Blacker with Aneurin Owen returning at inside centre.

Full-back Angus O’Brien is fit after being a late withdrawal in Dublin due to feeling tightness when kicking in the warm-up.

Lock Joe Davies and fly-half Will Reed could make first outings of the campaign after being called up to the bench.

Dragons: Angus O’Brien; Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter (captain), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate.

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Joe Westwood.