Dragons name wing David Richards in the starting side, while Dee is preferred to Brodie Coghlan at hooker.

Montpellier include Wales lock Adam Beard in their pack but former England number eight Billy Vunipola is not involved.

There will be a fascinating contest between Wales rivals Carter and Beard with the Dragons skipper replacing the former Ospreys lock in Steve Tandy’s starting side during the Six Nations.

Carter dismissed this theory, saying: “It’s Dragons against Montpellier. Nothing else.”

Montpellier: Banks; Taofifenua, Cadot, Anyanwu, Rates; Vincent, Bernadet; Erdocio, Riccitelli, Welsch, Beard, DuGuid, Tauleigne, Becognee, Nouchi (capt).

Replacements: Akrab, Abuladze, Haouas, Y Camara, Masibaka, Baraer, Miotti, Darmon.

Dragons: O’Brien (cc); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Armstrong; Martinez, Dee, Coleman, Douglas, Carter (co-capt), Woodman, Young, Wainwright.

Replacements: Coghlan, W Jones, D Lewis, S Davies, Keddie, M Lloyd, Paea, Anderson.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Filippo Russo (Italy)

TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland).