GARETH Coooper is facing a real fitness battle if he is to make the British Lions tour to New Zealand this summer.

The Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons scrum half has not played since he damaged an ankle playing in the tsunami match at Twickenham almost two months ago.

His last appearance for the Dragons was against Glasgow on January 22, but his pedigree is such that coach Sir Clive Woodward included him in his British Lions tour party for New Zealand.

Cooper, however, is still not fully fit and he is expected to miss yet another match on Friday night when the Dragons face Llanelli Scarlets in the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup at Rodney Parade.

His ankle problem is not responding to treatment, and if the Dragons lose, that will be his last opportunity to play in a competitive match before the Lions leave on May 25, unless he turns out for them against Argentina at the Millennium Stadium in a warm up two days earlier.

The Dragons are down to the bare bones for their cup quarter-final, for Nathan Brew is still out as well with ankle trouble while Hal Luscombe, recovering from a knee operation, and Steve Winn, out with a broken bone in his foot, are also on the casualty list.

Brew has made just two appearances in the last four months and the injury is now worse than originally feared. On top of that flanker Jamie Ringer is suspended for four weeks after being found guilty of butting during the Dragons' last match against Connacht, who cited him for the offence.

With Richard Bryan a long term absentee and already training for next season after suffering a serious knee injury and Ross Beattie long since departed, the Dragons are down to three available back row forwards in skipper Jason Forster, Michael Owen and Rhys Oakley.

The Scarlets, meanwhile, will have scrum half Dwayne Peel making his first start since his pivotal role in Wales' Grand Slam achievement. He is set to be the number one scrum half for the Lions this summer.

He will be partnered by youngster Aled Thomas, who steps in for Gareth Bowen at outside half.