Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother has been allowed to end his self-isolation to travel to Bordeaux-Begles for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup game.

Dragons reported three positive cases earlier in the week.

Wales hooker Elliot Dee returns for the Welsh region among seven changes with Wales centre Jamie Roberts rested.

Six players were withdrawn late from the Dragons' matchday squad before the 24-8 loss to Wasps last week, after two players tested positive.

Two more players and a member of staff tested positive as Dragons prepared to go to France this weekend, again depleting the numbers available to boss Dean Ryan.

Before the team announcement, Ryan said: "We're happy the Dragons will be ready to go at the weekend.

"We've done all our track-and-trace and we've been in contact with EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) and Wasps have a clean bill of health from the weekend, which is good to know as well.

"Are we as strong as when those players are there? No, we're not and it's a real shame that some of those players will not get this experience.

"It's an enormous challenge for us at the weekend but we are going to enjoy it.

"We'll give some opportunities for people to come in, experience it, hopefully we'll learn from it and be better for it."

Wing Rio Dyer makes his first start of the 2020-21 campaign.

Centre Jack Dixon and scrum-half Tavis Knoyle return, while up front, Joe Davies comes in at lock alongside Joe Maksymiw.

Huw Taylor is named at blind-side flanker with Lewis Evans at number eight in a revamped back-row, while Aneurin Owen could make his debut off the bench.

Bordeaux-Begles have made two starting changes from their win at Northampton as they bring in France fly-half Mathieu Jalibert and Wallaby lock Kane Douglas.

Griffiths blow

Dragons are without Wales back-row Ollie Griffiths who limped off with an ankle injury in the defeat by Wasps.

The 25-year-old has suffered a number of injury setbacks since winning his one and only cap against Tonga on Wales' summer tour in 2017.

"We'll get further advice but he looks to be out for a number of weeks which is a real shame because he was gathering some momentum for us and for himself," director of rugby Ryan added.

"He's down in the dumps but he's robust mentally. He's pretty single-minded and he's been here before, so let's get on with it."

Bordeaux-Begles: Romain Buros; Santiago Cordero, Yoram Falatea-Moefana, Rémi Lamerat, Ben Lam; Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu; Thierry Paiva, Maxime Lamothe, Vadim Cobilas, Kane Douglas, Cyril Cazeaux, Cameron Woki, Mahamadou Diaby (capt), Scott Higginbotham.

Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Zakaria El Fakir, Ben Tameifuna, Alexandre Flanquart, Marco Tauleigne, Jules Gimbert, Ben Botica, Pablo Uberti.

Dragons: Josh Lewis; Jared Rosser, Nick Tompkins, Jack Dixon, Rio Dyer; Sam Davies (capt), Tavis Knoyle; Brok Harris, Elliot Dee, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Huw Taylor, Taine Basham, Lewis Evans.

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Conor Maguire, Aaron Jarvis, Ben Carter, James Benjamin, Rhodri Williams, Aneurin Owen, Owen Jenkins.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

Assistant referees: Tual Trainini (France); Cedric Marchat (France)

TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin (France).