Dragons RFC will have forward duo Ben Carter and Ryan Woodman available for the BKT United Rugby Championship derby clash with the Ospreys on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick off) - but fly half Angus O'Brien has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
The Men of Gwent will travel to Swansea looking for the double over their Welsh rivals, following the victory at Rodney Parade earlier this season, with the returning duo a big power boost to the Dragons pack this weekend.
Carter returns following his three game suspension for the red card against Connacht at Rodney Parade, while Woodman looks set to make his comeback from the thumb injury he suffered against the Sharks in the EPCR Challenge Cup back in January.
Head Coach Dai Flanagan is backing the duo to have a big impact over the two remaining derby fixtures as Dragons look to finish the campaign on a high.
“They give us a bit of size and aerial presence,” said head coach Dai Flanagan.
“They give us options. “When Ryan got the injury we pinpointed these two games to get some experience in derbies and he will be playing at a fantastic stadium against Jac Morgan & Co.
“Then he will playing at Cardiff City Stadium against a Scarlets back row of Dan Davis & Co, so these are two really good opportunities.
“Ben has had a disjointed year with injury but was looking really good in his last game before the red card. He is fully fit and ready to see the season out well.”
However there is disappointing news for fly half Angus O'Brien who has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign following an ankle injury suffered against DHL Stormers last weekend.
Although boss Flanagan admits the Gwent born O'Brien has 'got away with one' and will be fully fit and firing for pre-season ahead of next year's campaign.
“He has got away with one,” said Flanagan.
"He will start pre-season fully fit when everyone feared the worst. He doesn’t need surgery, just a bit of time."
"It will be six to eight weeks after ligament damage, so I am really pleased for him because he had two unfortunate forearm breaks and he has been injured twice on his first game back.”
