Newport Gwent Dragons forward Michael Owen is set to pull out of the Welsh team for tomorrow's Test against South Africa in Pretoria.

Owen was named in the team by Mike Ruddock though he had not been able to train because of muscle spasms in his back.

But Owen is still struggling with the injury and is expected to withdraw from the team today.

Owen played in the first two Tests on tour against Argentina after being picked in his original and preferred position of number eight by Wales coach Mike Ruddock, who played him there for the Dragons last season though Wales predecessor Steve Hansen favoured Owen in the second row.

Alix Popham, the former Newport back row forward now with Leeds, is likely to replace Owen.

Popham is a specialist number eight and will probably get the vote ahead of rival Jonathan Thomas while Dragons flanker Jason Forster is also expected to miss out.

He doesn't play for the second time after being rewarded for a long wait and capped in the first Test against the Pumas.

Meanwhile, tempers flared at a Welsh training session when rivals Gavin Henson and Barry Davies were involved in an incident.

Henson has been preferred to Davies, but the Wales management sought to play it down, claiming words were exchanged, but there was no dust-up and it was resolved amicably.

The Springboks have targeted the Wales scrum which came under pressure during the two Tests against Argentina.

Though Wales coach Mike Ruddock has drafted in Gethin Jenkins and Mefin Davies, South Africa have responded to some problems in the two-Test series against Ireland by choosing one of the biggest front rows ever to play international rugby.

The suspect Eddie Andrews has been dropped and 20st Faan Rautenbach brought in though he has played just 30 minutes this season.

Rautenbach packs down alongside 19st fellow prop Os du Randt and 18st 6lbs Jon Smit, Smit admitting, "We want to control the scrums, it's an area where we really want to dominate."

On that basis Wales can expect a physical head-on onslaught, and the challenge will be whether they can withstand it.

If they can they have the backs capable of inflicting considerable damage with Shane Williams on fire after his hat-trick of tries in Argentina.

But if they can't Wales risk a hiding with Newport Gwent Dragons ace Percy Montgomery expected to enjoy himself again on his successful return to international rugby after three years in the wilderness.

The signs point to a hefty setback for Wales.