OF all the times for Newport Gwent Dragons to run into an injury crisis it has to be now, at the business end of the season and with a cup semi-final just five days away.

One game, against Magners League leaders Munster in Cork on Saturday, not only ended their five-match unbeaten run but it resulted in a whole raft of injuries.

Both locks, Rob Sidoli and Scott Morgan, suffered elbow injuries while centre Ashley Smith damaged a shoulder, joining skipper Tom Willis, out for the rest of the season, on the casualty list.

Will Harries is also unlikely to make it with hamstring trouble, it's touch and go for full back Martyn Thomas for the same reason and, of course, Dan Lydiate won't be available because of Wales commitments. Wayne Evans, another Cork casualty, is expected to make it, but elsewhere it's a grim picture which will surely test the Dragons' strength in depth, particularly at lock.

And they run into a Gloucester team in a rich vein of form after an indifferent start to the season.

They have now climbed to third place in the Aviva Championship, well ahead of their rivals, behind Leicester and Saracens.

They have beaten Northampton away and Bath at home in their last two matches so confidence will be high for the semi-final against their rivals from across the Severn Bridge.

The Dragons can take some comfort from their previous visit to at Kingsholm the season before last in the same competition, then called the EDF, when they went down to a narrow 25-20 defeat after leading midway through the second half.

The Dragons are appearing in only their second semi-final, and it would set their season alight if they could make their first final, but it looks a tall order now.