HALLAM Amos’ hopes of facing the world champions could be aided by the absence of Leigh Halfpenny with reports in the French media of the Wales full-back suffering an injury setback.

The Toulon ace has been working back to fitness from the knee injury that he suffered in the final World Cup warm-up against Italy in September.

The 27-year-old Lions ace spent the Six Nations with the Wales conditioning team, rehabbing in preparation of playing a part in the end of the Top 14 season.

However, it has been reported in newspaper Midi Olympique that he is unlikely to play in 2015/16 and that Halfpenny, who had been registered in Toulon’s Champions Cup squad ahead of Sunday’s loss to Racing 92, will miss the summer tour to New Zealand.

Wing Alex Cuthbert is already out of the three-Test trip to face the All Blacks after undergoing surgery to solve a longstanding knee injury.

Newport Gwent Dragons speedster Amos got the nod for the Six Nations finale against Italy, slotting into the back three with George North and Liam Williams before being replaced by full-back Gareth Anscombe.

They would be the leading quartet for the encounters with the world champions along with in-form Cardiff Blues wing Tom James, who started the games against Ireland and Scotland before being replaced by regional teammate Cuthbert.

Amos has been in hot form for the Dragons since making a January return from the shoulder injury that he suffered in the famous World Cup win against England at Twickenham.

The 21-year-old has dashed over for seven tries in nine games and will be to the fore as the men from Rodney Parade look for a strong finish to the season with a mouth-watering European Challenge Cup semi-final at Montpellier sandwiched by derbies with Cardiff Blues on Sunday and the Scarlets at Principality Stadium.

While the date in the capital is next up, it is hard to put the last four encounter at the Altrad Stadium in the south of France to the back of the mind.

The Top 14 title hopefuls will be overwhelming favourites but Amos believes the Dragons can upset the odds again after winning their quarter-final at Kingsholm.

"Not many people gave us a chance going to Gloucester, it's a hell of a place to play and the crowd was brilliant, but it was unbelievable to get the win,” he said.

"That's the second season in a row (in the semi-finals) so it shows we can do the business in Europe and hopefully we can go one better than last year and make the final.

“It's been well documented that we've struggled in recent weeks so to get a win of that magnitude is huge.

“Montpellier looked strong and have some world class players - the du Plessis brothers, Pierre Spies and the like - so it will be tough, there's no doubt about that, but they said Gloucester would be tough and we came away with the victory. Hopefully we can repeat that.”

The Dragons headed into the game on the back of seven losses in the Guinness Pro12 but this time were toasting a tight victory rather than lamenting a narrow defeat, with Amos hailing the influence of Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau.

He said: “We hadn't closed those games out in the last few weeks and we've got losing bonus points and come close. This time we made it over the line.

“All the forwards fronted up and Toby's talismanic for us, I’d probably single him out for providing that guiding influence to help us over the line.”