NEWPORT Gwent Drag-ons are desperate to get some of their injured players back for their vital Celtic League game against Welsh rivals the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Sunday.

In the past week they have had to contend with the loss of Richard Bryan and Kevin Morgan for the rest of the season and Nathan Brew for at least two months.

"They are all huge blows, our squad has been ripped apart," admitted Dragons rugby manager Jim McCreedy.

Apart from that trio, back row pair skipper Jason Forster and Jamie Ringer are also unlikely to make the must-win game against the Ospreys because of their groin and ankle injuries, respectively, which means young Chris Davies is set to remain at openside flanker after a promising debut against Cardiff Blues on Tuesday.

But there is a good chance utility back Sione Tuipulotu and Iock Ian Gough will be available after being out with shoulder injuries, as well as hooker Steve Jones, who has had more knee trouble, while scrum half Gareth Baber hopes to recover from flu.

Gough would obviously go straight back in to the side while Tuipulotu could well fill the full back role vacated by Morgan, though he struggled under the high ball in his last appearance there in the Powergen Cup-tie at Northampton on October 8.

Alternatives are development player Aled Thomas, who played there in the Heineken Cup double header against Munster, and Leigh Hinton, who has figured there three times this season.

Development players Gareth Chapman and Richard Fussell could be on the wings, Chapman for his fifth game in a row though he took a knock after one collision with Jonah Lomu on Tuesday. Exper-ienced Ben Breeze could also come back into the reckoning.

The Ospreys have also suffered major injury problems, Wales and British Lions pair Ryan Jones and Brent Cockbain out for the season, Gavin Henson and lock Ian Evans suspended and centre David Bishop and number eight Andy Lloyd (both knee) also out of action.

But they could be strengthened by the return of former Wales centre Leigh Davies, who has recovered from a calf injury.

And Wales wing Shane Williams could play at scrum half after being picked there ahead of out-of-form Jason Spice for Wednesday's postponed game against Llanelli Scarlets.

The match is vital for both teams are trying to avoid ending up as last placed Welsh team and possibly missing out on the Heineken Cup next year.

The Dragons remain bottom but one in the table on 15 points, nine ahead of next Friday's opponents Connacht with a game in hand, but trailing the Ospreys by two points and having played a game more.

Despite all their problems the Dragons have to win this one at home to move above their rivals and boost their claims of avoiding being the last placed Welsh side.

Dragons squad: S Tuipulotu, A Thomas, L Hinton, G Chapman, H Luscombe, J Bryant, R Fussell, B Breeze, C Sweeney, C Warlow, G Cooper, G Baber, A Black, D Maddocks, S Jones, G Robinson, R Thomas, I Gough, B Griffiths, L Charteris, P Sidoli, A Hall, R Oakley, M Owen (captain), C Davies.

Ospreys squad: A Cashmore, S Terblanche, R Mustoe, S Parker, A Bishop, L Davies, S Williams, S Connor, M Jones, J Spice, D Jones, B Williams, H Bennett, A Jones, A Millward, A Newman, L Bateman, J Thomas, J Bater, D Dillon, S Tandy. Kick off 3.10pm.