They may be set to face a Dragons side with just one win to their name in the Guinness PRO12 season so far, but head coach Gregor Townsend insists his Glasgow Warriors cannot afford to be complacent.

The Warriors have slipped to successive Guinness PRO12 defeats to Cardiff Blues and Ulster Rugby in their last two outings, but have not lost three in a row in the same season in the Championship since the end of the 2010/11 campaign.

A 23-20 defeat against the Blues ended a nine-game unbeaten run against the Welsh sides in the competition, with Townsend delighted to welcome back some key faces in a bid to return to winning ways.

“Rodney Parade is always a difficult place to visit and the Dragons are a hugely physical side, so we’re going to have to be at the top of our game tomorrow night,” said Townsend.

“It’s great to welcome Peter Murchie back. He’s been working really hard after picking up an injury during pre-season and the return of Josh Strauss and Rob Harley from injury is also a boost.

“The inclusion of Robert McAlpine has really helped us out, increasing our squad depth at second-row. Rob is an experienced player who has been in very good form for Ayr this season.”

The Dragons’ victory against Zebre three weeks ago is their only Guinness PRO12 success of the season so far, missing out against Ulster, Munster and, most recently, Benetton Rugby Treviso.

And recent records between the two don’t sit in favour of the Welsh side, losing their last four all encounters, last victorious 24-23 at Rodney Parade in February 2014.

But despite form and history being against them, head coach Kingsley Jones feels it’s only a matter of time before all their components fall into place, and is backing a home clash against the Warriors to be the ideal time for that to happen.

“We were disappointed with the defeat (against Treviso) because we defeated ourselves with what we did,” he said.

“I think we are just that one victory away. Hopefully it will come this weekend and it does kick-start things for us.

“We are in a good place. We’ve retained the squad so we’ve got a lot of fit players. We’ll make a few changes for the weekend, bring a few players back in.”

Fit-again back rower Lewis Evans returns to captain the Men of Gwent, who make ten changes for Friday night’s encounter, looking for just a second win in 15 Guinness PRO12 matches.

Nick Macleod is also back from injury to take his place at outside half, slotting into the backs with the returning Pat Howard, Sam Beard, Jack Dixon and Sarel Pretorius.

Rhys Thomas and Brok Harris come into the front row, while former All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn makes his first start of the season for the Scots.

Newport Gwent Dragons: Meyer; Howard, Beard, Dixon, Amos; Macleod, Pretorius; Hobbs, Thomas, Harris, Screech, Landman, Crosswell, Evans, Cudd

Replacements: Buckley, T Davies, Mitchell, Hill, Keddie, C Davies, O’Brien, Prydie

Glasgow Warriors: Murchie; Seymour, Bennett, Dunbar, Hughes; Russell, Pyrgos; Allan, Flynn, Puafisi, Harley, Gray, Wynne, Strauss, Brown

Replacements: MacArthur, Sears-Duru, Rae, McAlpine, Fagerson, Price, Clegg, Sarto

Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record:
Played 26, NG Dragons won 13, Warriors won 11, and 2 games drawn.

At Rodney Parade, 7:35pm. Live on BBC Wales and BBC ALBA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 14th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy (IRFU), Aled Evans (WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)