DRAGONS NAME MUNSTER SQUAD
Wales lock Luke Charteris has returned to full training after injuring a calf muscle during Wales’ autumn campaign, while fellow lock Peter Sidoli should have recovered from flu, but thier participation is still in doubt. A final decision on all the injured players will be delayed until Friday.
The good news for the Dragins is the return of Wales duo Ceri Sweeney and Michael Owen.
Sweeney sat out the Dragons’ Powergen Cup win against Worcester with a slight groin strain and Owen was rested after Wales’ strenuous autumn Test series.
Gareth Wyatt is out (elbow), while Jason Forster (groin), Kevin Morgan (ankle) and Hal Luscombe (thumb) are major doubts for Saturday.
Munster have their own injury concerns and are resigned to being without Paul O’Connell, Frank Sheahan and Alan Quinlan.
Late fitness tests will be given to John Kelly and Shaun Payne, while the Munster coach Declan Kidney is hoping the cut David Wallace received against Ulster on Saturday will have healed in time.
“Munster are a very impressive side and currently are top of the Celtic League,” said Dragons coach Paul Turner.
“They have a big pack of forwards who like to control things up front and a very impressive line-out that likes to challenge on the opposition ball.
“Munster have a special aura about them in the Heineken Cup, they have huge travelling support and it is a competition they are desperate to win<" he told BBC Sportt
“The forward battle will be of the utmost importance and the backs have to take any opportunity that presents itself.”
Dragons (from): K Morgan, L Hinton, A Thomas, G Chapman, H Luscombe, S Tuipulotu, C Sweeney, J Bryant, R Fussell, B Breeze, C Warlow, G Cooper, G Baber, A Black, D Maddocks, S Jones, A Brown, R Thomas, G Robinson, I Gough, P Sidoli, L Charteris, A Hall, R Bryan, M Owen, J Forster, J Ringer.
Munster: tbc.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).