NEWPORT Gwent Dragons could be without over a third of their squad for Saturday's Guinness Pro12 clash with title hopefuls Ulster in Belfast.

The Dragons may have to head to Ravenhill without 17 of the 45 players listed in their senior squad.

Full-back Lee Byrne limped off and fly-half Angus O'Brien was forced off by a concussion in the first half of last Friday's devastating 30-26 European Rugby Challenge Cup home loss to Newcastle.

Loosehead Boris Stankovich (back) and lock Andrew Coombs (knee) were also forced to pull out of the matchday 23.

Meanwhile hooker Rhys Buckley, who would have tried to force his way into the mix during the LV= Cup, faces three months on the sidelines after tearing a pectoral muscle in training.

It means that the Dragons are packed like sardines into the physio's room.

They are also without centres Pat Leach (knee), Jack Dixon (wrist), Tyler Morgan (knee) and Ross Wardle and locks Ian Gough (shoulder), Matthew Screech (shoulder), Cory Hill (ankle) and Joe Davies (shoulder).

They won't have the services of Wales international Taulupe Faletau, who is certain to feature against Australia a week on Saturday, while they will also be without wing/full-backs Hallam Amos and Tom Prydie this week.

They will be with the Test squad at their Vale of Glamorgan headquarters but are unlikely to feature against the Wallabies and the Dragons could desperately do with them being released for regional duty.

South African prop Brok Harris, who came off the bench in Western Province's Currie Cup win against Golden Lions in Cape Town on Saturday, arrives in the coming days but is unlikely to be flung straight in given that the front row is an area where the Dragons are well-stocked.

The Dragons have just 10 backs definitely available – scrum-halves Richie Rees, Jonathan Evans and Luc Jones, fly-halves Jason Tovey and Dorian Jones, centre Ashley Smith, wings Aled Brew, Matthew Pewtner and Ashton Hewitt and full-back Geraint Rhys Jones.

"The whole season has been about patching up," lamented director of rugby Lyn Jones. "We have had nothing but injury after injury.

"We will just have to see what is available on Monday morning and try and get a team together.

"We are expecting people to come back in three to four weeks time, but that's still some time away.

"We have a plan and want to get on with it but we are being held back by having quality players that we need to help our growth out injured."