NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner will send out an unchanged team to take on Guinness Premiership leaders Bath in tomorrow’s mouth-watering Heineken Cup clash at the Recreation Ground.

Turner has resisted the temptation to make changes from the side who beat Glasgow 32-22 in their opening European game last Saturday though he had options in the centre and back row in particular.

But the all-Australian centre partnership of Rory Sidey and Marc Stcherbina remains and back row trio Colin Charvis, Lewis Evans and Joe Bearman are also retained.

“The team deserves another chance after their performance last week, they deserve a crack at Bath who lead the Guinness Premiership and are one of the best teams in Europe,” said Turner.

“I found it very difficult leaving anybody out after last week’s performance. Momentum is a big thing in rugby and I felt this group needed another week of playing. Bath will be a big challenge for us and it’s one of those games where it’s how well we do without the ball as much as how well we do with it.”

Ashley Smith and Rhodri Davies had been competing for a centre slot, with Grant Webb, who is on the bench, Richard Parks, Jamie Ringer and Dan Lydiate all in contention for the back row.

Turner also keeps the same replacements, which means another chance on the bench for Aaron Coundley, 19 today, with fellow props Jamie Corsi, Lee Harrison, Hugh Gustafson and Gethin Robinson still injured though Robinson is expected back in a week and Corsi in a fortnight after resuming full training.

Another boost is the impending return of leading scrum half Andy Williams, probably a week away after having a back operation in the summer followed by a minor setback which has prevented him from playing this season.

“I’m OK going with Aaron, he has shown good club form and he’s a player of the future. The experience can only do him good,” said Turner.

“I’ve got high hopes for a number of our Academy boys. It’s not a case of sink or swim for Aaron because he’ll swim one day.”

The same 22 means that locks Adam Jones and Luke Charteris remain though their training is restricted because of shoulder and foot injuries, respectively, Jones the only player to appear in all eight matches this season.

Charteris has missed just one, as have props Rhys Thomas and Adam Black, as well as skipper Tom Willis, Bearman, Sidey and wing Richard Fussell.

Team: P Dollman, G Wyatt, R Sidey, M Stcherbina, R Fussell, J Arlidge, W Evans, A Black, T Willis (captain), R Thomas, A Jones, L Charteris, J Bearman, L Evans, C Charvis. Replacements: S Jones, A Coundley, A Hall, G Webb, R Lewis, S Connor, A Smith. Kick off 1pm.