NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have suffered a massive blow with the loss of former Wales captain Colin Charvis, below, for their European Challenge Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin on Saturday.

Charvis damaged an elbow near the end of last week's Magners League game against Leinster and a scan has revealed ligament damage.

It means the back row forward is also out of their league match against Munster in Cork a week on Saturday.

British and Irish Lion Charvis was told the recovery period is four weeks which could even put the rest of the season in jeopardy for him, but he is hoping to return in half that time.

Charvis has made a huge impact for the Dragons since joining them late last summer and has been an integral part of what they have achieved this season.

He has also been a big hit for the fans for his committed, wholehearted displays and he has missed only one of the Dragons' 26 matches this season.

"It's a huge blow for us," admitted Dragons rugby manager Jim McCreedy. "Colin did it near the end of the Leinster game and a scan revealed he's got ligament damage.

"He's out of the Clermont and Munster games and has been told he'll probably be out for four weeks, but if he can get back earlier than that he will. Fortunately we've got Joe Bearman back to full fitness again."

Bearman has been out for a large part of the season with hip trouble, but he could step straight in for Charvis, especially if Nic Fitisemanu fails to recover from a knee injury which has affected him in recent weeks.

Dragons captain Kevin Morgan and Paul Emerick are still being bothered by slight knee problems. Both expected to play despite Morgan being ruled out of the Leinster game and Emerick the Edinburgh match a week earlier.

Prop Rhys Thomas is almost certain to have to start the Clermont game earlier than the Dragons would have wanted after only just returning from a chest problem which kept him out for six months.

Lee Harrison has not officially been ruled out of the squad for France yet, though the ankle ligament injury he suffered against Leinster is expected to keep him on the sidelines.

And a further doubt is lock Peter Sidoli who broke a bone in his wrist against Leinster. He is named in the squad, but is another player with a big question mark over him.

"We've got 25 fully fit players to choose from against Clermont, and that includes three scrum halves," said McCreedy as the normal heavy injury toll near the end of the season kicks in and affects a small squad like the Dragons.

But centre Phil Dolman is back after recovering from a broken bone in his thumb while full back Martyn Thomas is named despite limping off with a damaged ankle against Leinster.

Dragons squad: K Morgan, M Thomas, G Wyatt, P Emerick, N Brew, P Dolman, A Brew, R Fussell, C Sweeney, A Thomas, G Cooper, A Walker, A Black, D Maddocks, S Jones, B Daly, R Thomas, L Harrison, J Corsi, I Gough, L Charteris, P Sidoli, A Hall, J Bearman, M Owen, N Fitisemanu, J Ringer. Kick off 12.30pm BST.