NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are down to the bare bones in the back row after number eight Ed Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in training.

The Dragons are already preparing for life without Taulupe Faletau during the Six Nations and his deputy Jackson is set to be out for several weeks, joining Ollie Griffiths, James Thomas and Andrew Coombs on the treatment table.

The 27-year-old Englishman, who arrived from Wasps in the summer, had been poised to lead the charge in Friday's Guinness Pro12 encounter with Leinster at Rodney Parade but limped off the paddock at the region's Ystrad Mynach training base yesterday afternoon.

Lewis Evans is now poised to shift to number eight with Nick Crosswell coming in at blindside and Nic Cudd continuing at openside.

Their back-up is James Benjamin, who has not played since the October loss in Dublin, will return to the fray with lock Rynard Landman an emergency option.

While they will contemplate a move into the loan market for cover, this is a time of year when the majority of squads are also stretched by international calls and injuries.

Promising number eight/blindside Harri Keddie is currently with Wales Under-20s ahead of the Six Nations and the Dragons believe his development will be better served remaining in camp rather than answering an injury SOS.

Centre Tyler Morgan, who is in Warren Gatland's squad for the Six Nations, is not yet ready for a return from the shoulder injury he suffered in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa.

The Dragons don't expect to profit from the services of his Wales teammate Hallam Amos, who returned from the shoulder injury he suffered against England in the European encounters with Castres and Sale.

Lyn Jones' side are attempting to hit back after their 38-5 humbling against the Sharks in Salford while Leinster are in the same boat following a 51-10 drubbing against Wasps in the Champions Cup.

The Irish province are also scratching around for players given the absence of their Ireland contingent, both senior and age-grade, plus injuries to overseas players Isa Nacewa, Hayden Triggs and Tom Denton.

"You are talking 30 to 35 players that were unavailable for training on Monday and more than likely selection this weekend," lamented head coach Leo Cullen.

"It's a big challenge for us this Friday against the Dragons. It's fair to say they are not going to be missing anywhere near that number of players so it is all hands on deck."

The Dragons did the double over Leinster last season, recording a stunning 16-14 win in the Irish capital before fighting back for a 25-22 success in Newport.

The meeting between the teams at the Royal Dublin Society went the way of the hosts, who eased to a comprehensive 37-13 victory.

- So severe was the Storm Jonas rain Dragons Under-18s' encounter with their Cardiff Blues counterparts last night fell victim to the weather with patches of the 3G surface at their Ystrad Mynach training base waterlogged. The Foster's Challenge Cup clash between Cross Keys and Newport at Pandy Park was also postponed.