Dai Flanagan remains hopeful that Wales international second row Ben Carter can win his fitness race for the EPCR Challenge Cup showdown with Glasgow Warriors.
But the Head Coach concedes that back row Ollie Griffiths is set for another spell on the sidelines after a repeat of his pectoral muscle injury in the loss to Ospreys.
The Men of Gwent were left to count the cost of defeat at Swansea.com Stadium with Griffiths and back row partner Harri Keddie forced off.
Centre Sio Tomkinson faces a sanction after his red card against Ospreys and could join lock Matthew Screech in sitting out the trip to Scotland through suspension.
Flanagan, though, will hope Wales ace Carter can give his squad a boost after revealing the lock had broken his hand earlier this month.
“We lost Ben after the Connacht game with a broken hand, so we didn’t have much choice in the second row,” stated Flanagan on team selection in Swansea.
“The back row was fully loaded, but we have now lost Ollie (Griffiths) and Harrison Keddie had a HIA, but I think he is clear.
“Ollie looks like a reoccurrence of what he did before, that is a blow.
“We might be down to what we’ve got again, but the quicker we can get used to that the more aligned we will be going forward next year. It’s always got to be the next man up.
“We are still hoping that Ben will be ok (for Glasgow),” he added.
“He has been four weeks now since the injury, but getting the strength back in his hand is key.”
We are still hoping that Ben will be ok... He has been four weeks now since the injury, but getting the strength back in his hand is key...
