NEWPORT Gwent Dragons will be boosted by the return of Rynard Landman from a six-week ban for this weekend’s Judgement Day clash with the Scarlets at the Millennium Stadium.

Landman was red-carded during the first-half of the Dragons 30-25 defeat against Connacht in February after elbowing Jack Carty in the head.

The South African second-row was initially handed a nine-week ban for an offence at the high end of the scale but that was reduced by three weeks for the player’s unblemished disciplinary hearing.

Fellow lock Cory Hill (leg) is a doubt this weekend and Nic Cudd (quad) could also miss out but Nick Crosswell (back) should be fit.

The Dragons take on the Scarlets at 4.45pm on Saturday afternoon after Cardiff Blues take on the Ospreys at 2.30pm.

All four regions will have a run through at the Millennium Stadium on Friday when the teams will also be announced.

Dragons coach Kinglsley Jones said: "We’ve got Rynard back in the mix, which is great for us. What he brings is leadership and experience.

"We’ve got Matthew Screech as well but Nic Cudd has a quad problem, Cory Hill is struggling again and we’re without [Andrew] Coombs and Lewis Evans.

"A lot of players are missing for us. Our selection will be a string selection but we haven’t got that many choices going into the game.

"Crosswell is another one who is carrying a bad back but he should be OK."