NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are likely to be without six backs because of injury for tomorrow night's big Celtic League clash at Rodney Parade when fourth-placed Dragons take on second-placed Munster.

Out are Wales pair Hal Luscombe and Gareth Cooper, still troubled by hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively, centre Steve Winn, who broke his foot against Neath Swansea Ospreys last Friday and is out for the rest of the season, and Nathan Brew, who has suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury. On top of that Gareth Wyatt injured a groin against the Ospreys and Craig Warlow a thigh muscle, ruling both out.

Included in the Dragons team are Newport pair James Ireland and Gareth Chapman, with Daniel Griffiths on the bench against one of the top teams in Europe.

In view of all the problems Percy Montgomery will be in the outside centre position he occupied so successfully last season with Kevin Morgan at full back and Wales replacement Ceri Sweeney returning at outside half.

But the Dragons have no such problems in the pack, with all their leading players available, including Michael Owen who returns at number eight after leading Wales to their wonderful Grand Slam triumph against Ireland last week.

Wales squad member Steve Jones returns at hooker in an all-change front row including Adam Black and Rhys Thomas while lock Luke Charteris, also a Wales squad member, makes only his fifth start of the season.

Kevin Morgan needs just two tries to equal the best he has managed in any season, standing at 16 in his first year in top class rugby back in 1996-97.

He has scored 11 tries for the Dragons and three for Wales, two against Scotland and one against Ireland.

He has a minimum of four games left, three in the league and at least one in the Celtic Cup. "I've had a good year with my try scoring, it's nice to get over and be part of winning sides, but it would be nice to top my previous best," he said.

Munster, who have yet to announce a team, will be without Ireland lock Paul O'Connell who was yesterday banned for two weeks after being cited following an incident with Robert Sidoli in Saturday's match against Wales.

Prop John Hayes is nursing cuts and bruises following the Wales game, but apart from that Munster are at full strength and include Ireland half backs Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara.

Dragons: K Morgan, G Chapman, P Montgomery, S Tuipulotu, B Breeze, C Sweeney, J Ireland, A Black, S Jones, R Thomas, I Gough, L Charteris, J Ringer, M Owen, J Forster (captain).

Replacements: J Bryant, D Griffiths, R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, P Sidoli, R Oakley. Munster: S Payne, J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan, R O'Gara, P Stringer, M Horan, F Sheahan, F Roche, D O'Callaghan, T Hogan, A Quinlan, J Williams, D Wallace. Kick off 7.05pm