NEWPORT Gwent Dragons boss Kingsley Jones believes Ollie Griffiths' leadership qualities make him stand out from the crowd of talented Wales flankers.

The 22-year-old from Newbridge is one of a glut of back row forwards who will be hoping to feature in the summer Tests against Samoa and Tonga while Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau are on Lions duty.

Griffiths suffered a shoulder injury in the opening exchanges of last weekend's Guinness PRO12 loss in Zebre and faces a fitness race to be fit for Saturday's Judgement Day clash with the Scarlets at Principality Stadium.

The derby double-header is the final chance to impress interim Wales boss Robin McBryde and the Dragons will hope to have their flanker leading the charge.

The region may be having a torrid time in 2017 but Griffiths, who is comfortable at blindside or openside, has been in outstanding form and is near the top of the PRO12 charts for tackles and turnovers while he is also a force with ball in hand.

The flanker has been earmarked as one to watch since making an impression with Newport RFC in the Principality Premiership.

Then head coach Sven Cronk was so impressed with the back row forward's maturity that he made him the youngest captain of the Black and Ambers' rich history at the age of 19, getting the honour for the 2014/15 campaign ahead of a number of seasoned campaigners.

The ability to lead from the front makes Griffiths a cert to become a Test star, according to his Dragons boss.

"Ollie is an outstanding prospect and has got international rugby player written all over him," said Jones, himself a former Wales back row forward.

"Unfortunately for Ollie there are a lot of good number 7s in Wales at the moment with Thomas Young, Ellis Jenkins, James Davies and the senior ones of Tipuric and Warburton, so that's a challenge for him.

"To stand out from that group of players you need something more and he has that with leadership qualities.

"I am going to big up Dragons players, of course I am, but at 22 years of age he is 7 or 8 out of 10 every week.

"That's what you want from international rugby players – Toby Faletau doesn't have a bad game and every now and then has a 9 or 10 out of 10 performance.

"The boys have called Ollie 'Mini Warby' for years. That's a compliment because they think he's a carbon copy of Sam in terms of his behaviour as well.

"They all bring something different but I think Ollie is the most complete. He is a good ball carrier, is good over the ball, is a great defender and has a bit of everything. He is a machine in terms of his work rate."

Griffiths is the Dragons' standout candidate for the Wales tour but the likes of Cory Hill and potentially wings Hallam Amos and Ashton Hewitt, who have been sidelined with a shoulder injury and concussion respectively, will also want to impress.

"Our players have everything to gain and nothing to lose," said Jones. "There are a lot of guys in our squad that also have one eye on the summer tour, there is no better opportunity to put hands up."