ROSS Beattie is back in the Newport Gwent Dragons squad for Saturday night's Celtic League test against Munster at Musgrave Park, Cork.

Versatile forward Beattie has been released from the Scotland squad on duty for the November internationals and was back training with the Dragons yesterday.

His return is a timely one because the Dragons' resources are so stretched that they brought Newport captain Matthew Veater on to the bench for last Friday's game against Neath-Swansea Ospreys.

Coach Chris Anderson is unlikely to depart from his usual back row of skipper Jason Forster, Richard Bryan and Jamie Ringer and with Ian Gough and Peter Sidoli set to be the locks again, Beattie will provide cover at lock and number eight, with Rhys Oakley covering the flanker positions.

The Scottish international, who, like Luke Charteris, has been unable to make Anderson's starting XV, has been added to the Dragons squad for their first visit to Southern Ireland this season.

Newport scrum half James Ireland is also in the squad after dropping out in favour of Veater last Friday, though it would appear wiser to put Beattie as an extra forward on the bench rather than Ireland, though that would leave no specialist scrum half on the bench.

Versatile Sione Tuipulotu, who had a terrific game against the Ospreys, would be entrusted with the role if Gareth Baber gets injured.

Saturday could provide one of the toughest league tests of the season for the Dragons. Though Munster are also without their leading players with Ireland taking on South Africa, they have valuable players like Christian Cullen and Paul Burke, the former Harlequins and Cardiff outside half, who scored 14 points in their 24-3 win against Ulster at Ravenhill at the weekend to lift them into fourth place, four points behind second placed Dragons.

But the Dragons beat Munster in Limerick last season in one of their finest performances of the season.

Dragons ace Percy Montgomery, who scored 23 points for South Africa against Wales, wins his 59th cap in Saturday's match against Ireland. The Springboks show just one change, with A J Venter replacing Juan Smith in the back row.

Dragons squad: K Morgan, G Wyatt, N Brew, S Tuipulotu, S Winn, J Bryant, B Breeze, C Warlow, G Baber, J Ireland, R Snow, A Black, J Richards, K Crawford, C Anthony, R Thomas, I Gough, P Sidoli, R Beattie, R Oakley, J Ringer, R Bryan, J Forster (captain). Kick off 8.05pm.