Director of rugby Lyn Jones believes the absence of Leinster’s international stars is cause for Newport Gwent Dragons to be extra vigilant on Friday night.

The Welsh outfit host Leinster at Rodney Parade in the RaboDirect PRO12 off the back of successive defeats in all competitions.

Outside centre Pat Leach returns from injury for the Dragons in one of eight changes, while Hallam Amos moves to full-back and Netani Talei comes in at No.8.

The Dragons can take confidence from the fact they have not lost at Rodney Parade in the RaboDirect PRO12 since March, though it was Leinster who beat them.

The visitors are missing key players such as Brian O’Driscoll, Cian Healy and Jamie Heaslip, who are away on international duty with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad.

Head coach Matt O’Connor has been forced into 11 changes from last weekend, as South Africa full-back Zane Kirchner makes his first start for the club.

Jimmy Gopperth starts at fly-half, while Tom Denton replaces Devin Toner at second row in one of six changes to the pack.

However, Jones insists the players deputising for those absentees will require the closest supervision on the night.

And he believes last weekend’s 40-17 defeat to fellow Welshmen Ospreys was a much-needed reminder of how not to perform at this level.

“They've got a lot of good players and you have to keep an eye out for those that have plenty of motivation,” he said.

“The boys that are given the opportunity after being second choice to Brian O'Driscoll, for example, are the ones that you have to be wary of. He is the player that will give it everything he has got.

“Last Friday night, as ugly as it was for us, was much-needed. Lots of bad habits from last year had come back. It sharpens your game up when you get a kick in the teeth like that.”

Leinster have won three consecutive matches in all competitions, after narrowly seeing off Connacht last weekend, and have not lost to a Welsh region in 2013.

They have won their last six encounters with the Dragons but flanker Shane Jennings admitted the Irish side are in for a tough test at Rodney Parade – though he also believes those waiting in the wings will shine for the visitors.

“It's a tough place to go. When you get your chance, you've got to take it,” Jennings told Herald.ie.

“We've got about 40 or 50 lads itching to play for the senior team. Everybody has to drive that, young lads, old lads, coaches.

“Thankfully, we have that. Now is an opportunity for those lads to put their hand up and stake a claim.”

At Rodney Parade, 7.05pm.   Live on BBC Wales/RTE
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon  Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Neil Hennessy (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Charles (WRU)
TMO:  Gareth Simmonds (WRU)