Yahoo Sports Ackerman back from injury for Dragons against Pau
European Challenge Cup: Dragons v Pau
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport Date: Sunday, 12 January Kick off: 13:15 GMT
Coverage: Report on the BBC Sport website and app.
Centre Harri Ackerman will make his first Dragons start since a serious leg injury in Sunday's European Challenge Cup game against Pau.
He had surgery for a double fracture suffered while leading Wales Under-20s against France in March.
Ackerman, 20, is one of seven changes for the game at Rodney Parade and is partnered with recalled Joe Westwood in midfield.
Scrum-half Che Hope is the other alteration behind a pack showing four changes from the defeat against Scarlets.
Wales hooker Elliot Dee and tight-head Chris Coleman return in the front row, while lock Barny Langton-Cryer will make his first ever start for Dragons.
In the back row Taine Basham switches to number eight to allow George Young to make his first start of the season at open-side flanker.
Dragons are third in Pool 2 after recovering from a narrow home loss to Montpellier with an impressive away win at Newcastle.
They are though bottom of the United Rugby Championship without a win since the opening day of the season, losing to both Cardiff and Scarlets in the festive Welsh derbies.
Pau are 11th in France's Top 14 having lost at Toulon and Castres either side of a home win against Vannes since their last European game.
They are second in Pool 2, winning their opening fixture 32-19 at home to Newcastle before losing to Lions in Johannesburg.
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said: "Section Paloise (Pau) are a good side with great depth to the squad.
"They have a power game with strong athletes across the board from their back row, midfield and an athletic back three. They are a threat.
"We've watched a lot of their games, reviewed them, and they are going to be a good contest. There are a few players we need to stop and it is a challenge and fixture we are all really looking forward to."
Dragons: Cai Evans; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Harri Ackerman, Jared Rosser; Angus O'Brien (capt), Che Hope; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Barny Langton-Cryer, Shane Lewis-Hughes, George Young, Taine Basham.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Morgan Lloyd, Lloyd Evans, Ewan Rosser
Pau: Clément Mondinat; Theo Attissogbe, Eliott Roudil (capt), Fabien Brau-Boirie, Gregoire Arfeuil; Axel Desperes, Dan Robson; Remi Seneca, Romain Ruffenach, Jon Zabala Arrieta, Hugo Auradou, Jimi Maximin, Mehdi Tlili, Reece Hewat, Thibaut Hamonou.
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Daniel Bibi Biziwu, Harry Williams, Remi Picquette, Loic Credoz, Thomas Souverbie, Quentin Valentino, Jack Maddocks.
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira & Griffin Colby (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
