NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are confident that livewire winger Ashton Hewitt will come through his concussion tests for their 'eight-pointer' at Guinness PRO12 champions Connacht on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old has not played since the New Year's Day defeat to the Ospreys at Rodney Parade and has been released from Wales' Six Nations squad after being unable to take part in training.

However, he is nearing a return and the Dragons are hopeful of the speedster getting the all clear to line up against Connacht on Saturday evening.

They could do with his energy and elusiveness to provide a spark as they hunt a first away win of the season to bring an end to a 21-game PRO12 losing streak on their travels.

The Dragons were downed 45-17 by Munster in Cork on Friday evening with the league leaders scoring six tries in an impressive display.

Head coach Kingsley Jones is now mulling over making changes for the Sportsground with 20-year-old number eight Harri Keddie one of the new brigade pushing hard for starts.

"It was the story of the Dragons historically," lamented Kingsley Jones after the game in Cork. "There was a lot of endeavour but it's another hard lines story.

"The younger players need to see a lot more rugby towards the end of the season because they don't have, dare I say it, some bad habits.

"We've played a tough game away from home and the biggest thing is can we learn for an important one in Connacht next Saturday?

"It's a big, big game for us – an eight-pointer in where we are in the league. Winning away isn't easy in the PRO12 but we are desperate to end that record.

"Ultimately if we play with the same endeavour, attitude and physicality we have a good chance, but we have to be a lot smarter."

The Dragons play away games at Connacht, who are six ahead after beating Cardiff Blues in the capital on Sunday, and Glasgow either side of a home fixture against Leinster.

They need to keep pace with the eighth-placed champions and ninth-placed Edinburgh, who are a point ahead after leaving Ulster with a consolation last weekend.

The 'mini league' at the bottom is likely to be decided by their fixtures against each other – Edinburgh host both sides at Myreside – and Jones believes his side can enjoy a strong finish to the season.

He said: "The frustrating thing is that once again the players were speaking in the changing room at Munster and knew already what they had done wrong. But when will they learn and put it into action?

"I really feel we can have a strong finish to the season and it's a big target to get that away win but we need to go to Connacht and put in the same physical performance without the odd poor decision."