DYNAMIC Wales flanker Taine Basham will give the Dragons ‘a different threat’ in their bid to beat the Sharks, says boss Dai Flanagan.

The 24-year-old from Talywain will make his first appearance of the season in the United Rugby Championship fixture at Rodney Parade (kick-off 5.15pm).

Basham was troubled by tendonitis this summer and watched on in the first two rounds of the season as Ryan Woodman, Shane-Lewis Hughes and Harri Keddie impressed against the Ospreys and Leinster.

However, the Dragons have suffered a blow with Keddie ruled out of the Sharks game with a back niggle, meaning that they unleash Basham as starting openside.

BACK: Dragons flanker Taine Basham will carry hard against the SharksBACK: Dragons flanker Taine Basham will carry hard against the Sharks (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“Taine is chomping at the bit and he is a threat. He usually beats that first defender and is a threat over the ball,” said head coach Flanagan.

“He needs consistency and has worked extremely hard since being fully fit to be ready for this opportunity, now I want him to grab it.

“All our back rowers have their super-strengths and Taine adds something different and will definitely enhance our performance.”

Basham starts at openside while a reshuffle sees Wales and Lions great Dan Lydiate come in at number eight to add physicality against the strong South Africans.

This season’s plan was for the 36-year-old to be an emergency option while starting his coaching career as a contact specialist but injuries to Aaron Wainwright and Solomone Funaki plus the unavailability of Ollie Griffiths changed that.

STARTER: Dragons great Dan LydiateSTARTER: Dragons great Dan Lydiate (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“Dan will have a big part to play for us against the Sharks with his experience and physicality,” said Flanagan.

“We have been sensible with him because we knew that he would need to peak at certain parts of the season [as a player].

“We didn’t think it would be so soon but we had a plan ready to put into action, he has executed it well and has a big part to play in this block of games, then we will see how he transitions into coaching.

“He did the summer as a coach, then with Aaron and others being injured it was a move to being a player.”

Lydiate, who impressed off the bench against the Ospreys, will make his 97th appearance for the club as he closes in on a century.