The Dragons welcome back Wales international Aaron Jarvis for his first outing in seven months when they take on Leinster at the RDS on Friday evening.
The 18-cap Jarvis featured for Wales at the 2015 World Cup.
He played against New Zealand the following summer but fell out of the reckoning thereafter with a move to Clermont Auvergne not helping his cause.
The Dragons will be pleased to see the vastly experienced former Osprey back as they try to iron out the scrum creases that have been evident in their game in recent times.
Jarvis replaces Leon Brown, who is ruled out by injury.
Dean Ryan makes two other changes from the side beaten 56-17 by Bristol Bears in a sobering European Challenge Cup quarter-final at Ashton Gate last month.
Will Talbot-Davies comes in at full-back for the injured Jordan Williams and Joe Maksymiw figures at second row, with Matthew Screech dropping to the bench.
Talbot-Davies lines up in a dangerous-looking backline that has Jonah Holmes, Nick Tompkins, Jamie Roberts and Ashton Hewitt in the three-quarters, with Sam Davies and Rhodri Williams providing direction from half-back.
“We’re excited to start the season and the task ahead of us on the opening night,” said director of rugby, Dean Ryan.
“Leinster remain the team to beat in the Guinness PRO14 and have a huge amount of depth which is the envy of many teams.
“But that is part of the excitement, when you play against the best you always face quality and we know the level of performance that we will need out in Ireland.”
Tavis Knoyle will complete a century of PRO14 games if he comes onto the field as a replacement in Dublin.
The Wales international made his league debut back in 2009 and has played for all four regions while compiling his appearance tally.
Leinster field a strong side led by Johnny Sexton, with Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose and James Rowe figuring alongside him in the backs and Scott Fardy and James Ryan starting up front.
Leinster: H. Keenan; J. Larmour, G. Ringrose, C. Frawley, J. Lowe, J. Sexton (capt), J. Gibson-Park; E. Byrne, R. Kelleher, M. Bent, S. Fardy, J. Ryan, R. Ruddock, J. van der Flier, J. Conan.
Reps: S. Cronin, C. Healy, A. Porter, R. Baird, M. Deegan, L. McGrath, R. Byrne, T. O'Brien.
Dragons: W. Talbot-Davies; J. Holmes, N. Tompkins, J. Roberts, A. Hewitt; S. Davies, R. Williams (capt); B. Harris, E. Dee, A. Jarvis, J. Davies, J. Maksymiw, A. Wainwright, H. Keddie, R. Moriarty.
Reps: R. Hibbard, C. Maguire, L. Fairbrother, M. Screech. T. Basham, T. Knoyle, J. Lewis, A. Warren.
