Ryan has named a strong side for Saturday’s friendly with Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road (kick-off 2pm).
It is the first of two pre-season games for the Dragons who open up the new United Rugby Championship campaign against the Ospreys at Rodney Parade later this month.
“I am here to make this place keep improving and my challenge is to use my experiences of how best to do that,” said Ryan.
“I don’t expect anybody to cut us any slack. We are trying to be competitive with the resources that are available to us and we are quite happy to be accountable for that.”
New Dragons loan signing Jordan Olowofela joined from Leicester this week starts on the wing against his parent club. He is joined in the back three by Owen Jenkins and full-back Jordan Williams.
Jared Rosser moves from wing to an unfamiliar role at outside centre and is partnered by the experience of Jamie Roberts in midfield.
Dan Babos gets his first start in three years at scrum-half with captain Sam Davies joining him at half back to complete the backline.
Veteran Richard Hibbard lines up at hooker and has youth either side of him in the front row in the shapes of Josh Reynolds and Chris Coleman.
The second row sees both Joe Davies and Joe Maksymiw combine to complete the front five.
Taine Basham, fresh from Wales duty, starts at openside with young Ben Fry taking the six jersey and Ollie Griffiths at No 8.
Fijian international Mesake Doge and on loan scrum-half Lewis Jones could make their first Dragons appearances while back-row-turned-hooker James Benjamin could make his first appearance in his new position for the region.
Dragons: Jordan Williams; Owen Jenkins, Jared Rosser, Jamie Roberts, Jordan Olowofela; Sam Davies (capt), Dan Babos; Josh Reynolds, Richard Hibbard, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Ben Fry, Taine Basham, Ollie Griffiths
Replacements: James Benjamin, Aaron Jarvis, Mesake Doge, Ben Carter, Lennon Greggains, Lewis Jones, Evan Lloyd, Jack Dixon, Luke Yendle, Huw Taylor, Ioan Davies, Josh Lewis, Aneurin Owen
