NEWPORT Gwent Dragons enter the last lap of the Celtic League programme in third place in the table and well set for a decent double.

They are now almost guaranteed a place in next season's Heineken Cup again and a home draw in the knock-out stages of the Celtic Cup competition in April when the top eight finishers in the league battle it out for the trophy.

The weekend results all worked out in the Dragons' favour in their aim of ending a relatively disappointing season with something tangible.

First of all, a vastly under-strength side trounced bottom team Borders 42-15 at Rodney Parade on Friday night after they trailed 9-0 in as many minutes.

They achieved a bonus point into the bargain after scoring five tries against the hapless Scots, four of them in the second half.

Then Cardiff Blues did their bit on Saturday when they beat second placed Munster to leave the Dragons with an outside chance of climbing to second in the table in the final weeks of the season.

And though the Blues won they fell a further point behind the Dragons because they failed to achieve a bonus. They will have to win all four remaining games and the Dragons lose theirs if they are to deny them that Heineken Cup place.

The Blues have got more chance of catching fifth placed Llanelli Scarlets than the Dragons in the race for the final Welsh place.

And finally Neath Swansea Ospreys further aided the Dragons with an outstanding 16-12 victory over Leinster at Donnybrook last night.

It gives the Ospreys a big 12 point lead over Munster at the top of the table and they remain title favourites.

It will be tough for the Dragons to hold on to third spot as they have some difficult games to finish - the Ospreys away a week Friday, then Munster at home, Edinburgh away and finally Connacht at Rodney Parade.

They could also be in danger of losing giant Wales lock Luke Charteris, who is interesting top English club Wasps and other Welsh regions.

The Ospreys are believed to be heading the queue, though the 6ft 10ins 18st 6lbs lock is under contract to the Dragons for another year.

Departing coach Chris Anderson sowed the seeds of doubt in the Autumn when he said Charteris shouldn't be in the Welsh team just because of his height and that it was unfair on players who are regulars, referring to Charteris' frequent injury problems.

The Dragons lost one international, Ross Beattie, because of major problems with the coach. They can't possibly afford a repeat.