NEWPORT Gwent Drag-ons will have difficulty fielding a back division for their Magners League Welsh derby against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Injuries and non-availability have decimated their numbers with as many as seven players definitely ruled out, no specialist full back in their ranks while they will probably be forced to play a centre on the wing.

Neither Will Harries nor Aled Brew will be released from the Wales camp, both in the running for a place in the team or as replacements for the game against Australia a week Saturday now that Leigh Halfpenny has been sidelined for the entire autumn series.

Ashley Smith, Matthew Watkins, Tom Cheeseman, Matt Evans and Matthew Pewtner are all injured, though there are hopes that Smith might make it after being out with a knee injury while Nathan Brew is also close to a return, but Rhodri Gomer Davies is not available for domestic reasons.

One option would be to move Jason Tovey to full back with Matthew Jones at outside half, though there is a reluctance to go down that road in view of the success Tovey made of his return at 10 against Aironi. Another possibility is centre Pat Leach switching to full back where he has played before.

The only fit wing in the squad is Adam Hughes, and he’s raring to go again after his try double against the Italians, unless Nathan Brew comes through and goes straight into the side after rejoining in the summer.

If Smith does report fit at training today another possibility would be to move Tom Riley to the wing position.

The Dragons are waiting on the fitness of skipper Tom Willis, who has played just once this season because of rib and knee injuries, while prop Ben Castle is out for another fortnight with a thigh injury.

Dan Lydiate won’t be released by Wales which means an unchanged back row of Andrew Coombs, Toby Faletau and Gavin Thomas.