Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel has been named on the Sale Sharks bench for Friday night's LV= Cup clash against Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Peel was ruled out of Wales' opening autumn Test appointment with New Zealand on Saturday.

Because the game falls outside the International Rugby Board's recognised November Test window, Sale were under no obligation to release their Lions number nine.

And Peel is now among several internationals who feature in a strong Sale match-day 22.

His fellow replacements include England back Mathew Tait, while three more England Test players - Ben Cohen, Charlie Hodgson and Richard Wigglesworth - make the starting line-up.

"We are expecting a very tough game," said Sharks rugby director Kingsley Jones.

"Paul Turner has done a great job with the Dragons, and they had an excellent result at the weekend when they won at Edinburgh. They also ran Gloucester very close in the Heineken Cup last month.

"This is a competition we are looking to do well in, and I have named a team that I believe will do well."

The Dragons, minus Wales squad players Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate, are also without injured talismen Tom Willis and Joe Bearman.

But their Magners League and Heineken Cup form has proved impressive this term, suggesting Sale can expect a thorough examination.