NEWPORT Gwent Dragons pair Michael Owen and Hal Luscombe are both struggling to make the Welsh team for Saturday's tough test against South Africa in Pretoria.

Owen is the biggest doubt, suffering from back spasms, not helped by the seven-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Cape Town and the interminable airport check-in procedure.

Luscombe went to hospital once he arrived in South Africa and had his injured thumb put in a splint.

Owen and Luscombe are the two Dragons who played in both Tests in Argentina, Owen after switching from lock where former Wales coach Steve Hansen played him to his favourite number eight slot where Hansen's successor Mike Ruddock prefers him, while Luscombe has played on the right wing compared with left wing for the Dragons or his preferred centre role.

Also struggling with injuries are centre Sonny Parker, also with a thumb injury, and scrum half Dwayne Peel with a strained ankle.

Ruddock, meanwhile, has warned of the danger of Percy Montgomery, who played under Ruddock for the Dragons last season and has been recalled to the Springbok team.

"I have a huge regard for him, he's made a big impact in Wales," said Ruddock. "He's done a brilliant job at Newport, he's not only been very skillful, he's also been very brave and incredibly physical."

Ruddock will ask his players to throw whatever remains of their resolve at South Africa at the end of a gruelling season.

Ruddock brought a young team on tour without 14 players who were either injured or told to stay at home to recharge their batteries.

But having levelled the Test series with the Pumas in a pulsating 35-20 win in Buenos Aires, Ruddock wants one last big push from his players as they seek to earn the Springboks' respect.

He said: "These boys are tired. They have had a big season. Getting an away win for the first time in a while was a big positive. We did it on the back of 14 injuries and it was achieved under pressure because we had to turn around a defeat."