AFTER grappling on the mat to prove his fitness, hard-hitting Harri Keddie is ready to wrestle with Wales stars for starts in the Dragons back row.

The 22-year-old from Llanvaches make his first appearance of the season in the Guinness PRO14 loss to Ulster in Belfast last weekend.

Keddie impressed with an 80-minute display at Kingspan Stadium, reaping the rewards of the gruelling rehabilitation from a pre-season bicep injury.

"Luckily with upper body injuries you are able to run quite quickly after it, but it was just getting back to the physical stuff," said Keddie, who will retain his start at number eight at Connacht on Saturday (kick-off 5.15pm).

"I spent a good month with (head of medical) Ben Stirling and the physio department getting back into it to make sure I was ready and it worked.

"I did a bit of boxing and wrestling as light contact to work up to the tackling, mauling and rucking. It was a pretty tough month and it put me in good stead.

"It was a bit of a long pre-season with the injury so it was great to get out there last weekend, hopefully I can now get a run of games and get match fitness.

"It was frustrating because you just want to play because after doing all the training the reward is being able to play.

"But it's done now and I just have to get on with it and look forward to playing as much as possible.

"I wasn't expecting the full 80 minutes but I just had to dig in and do it! It catches up with you quickly in the last 20, but it was just nice to be out there and it was good fun. I was a bit eager at the start with a few penalties but I calmed down."

The timing of the injury – suffered when attempting to grab a teammate in a training tackle – could not have been worse.

It allowed new recruit Ross Moriarty and his fellow Wales back rowers Aaron Wainwright and Ollie Griffiths to establish themselves as first choice, while openside Nic Cudd has impressed on his comeback from a 2017/18 ruined by ruptured knee ligaments.

But Keddie's return was timely given the absence of Moriarty and Wainwright for autumn internationals and the loss of Griffiths with a minor hip injury.

South Wales Argus:

"There is a strong back row unit even with boys away. It's a tough fight for starts and the more of us fit, the better it will be," said Keddie.

"The boys set the standard at the start of the year and it's up to us while they are away to keep it going and make it as difficult as possible for them to get back in.

"To have a winning team you need everyone pushing, even the Wales players, for places in the team. That's vitally important for us.

"I guess I have to try and bring a big work rate. Nowadays you can't have any passengers in the back row and everyone needs to do their bit in attack and defence.

"I will just try and bring physicality with and without the ball, trying to have as many good impacts on the game as possible."

The Dragons travel to Galway buoyed by their battling display in Belfast, one that could easily have earned at least a consolation bonus point.

Nonetheless, Ulster scored five tries and Keddie & Co must shore up their leaky defence if they are to end the region's nightmare run of 36 straight losses on the road in the PRO14.

"There are a few areas of defence that we need to tighten up because Connacht are a similar team to Ulster in the way that they play," he said. "They both play expansive rugby and bring their backs and wingers into the game.

"It's about our work rate, picking up their wingers coming in and looking for work and being ready for those inside balls.

"Connacht are notorious for long phases of play, keeping the ball and not kicking, so we know that we will be in for long, tough periods of defence and will have to dig in for the result.

"It's another tough game but we have shown improvement throughout the season in our away games, so if can step it up another level then I don't see any reason why we can't win."