WING Nathan Brew will have a fitness test later this week to decide whether he can play for Newport Gwent Dragons in Friday night's Celtic League title chasing showdown against Leinster at Lansdowne Road.
Brew had to leave the field near the end of the first half against Borders last Friday because of a hamstring injury.
His training has been restricted this week, and though he will travel to Dublin there is a doubt about his availability.
Brew is also in the running for a place for Wales against the Barbarians on May 26 and on the tour to Argentina and South Africa next month regardless of the dire injury situation.
Either out of the tour or doubtful for it are Kevin Morgan, Iestyn Harris, Stephen Jones, Jamie Robinson, Mark Jones, Mark Taylor and Matthew Watkins.
That could easily let Brew in after his rapid improvement this season, especially as he can play wing or centre, and the same applies to fellow Dragons threequarter Hal Luscombe.
If Brew fails to make it against Leinster Ben Breeze will step in for his first start since March 5 against Glasgow after playing in the first 20 games without a break. Breeze would play on the left wing with Luscombe switching to the right.
The only definite change in a Dragons team chasing their seventh win in a row, not to mention the Celtic League title if rivals Llanelli Scarlets and Ulster slip up at Stradey Park, is at hooker.
Steve Jones has now recovered from his calf injury and regains his place in the side after going on as a second half replacement against Borders.
Keiron Crawford, the Wales Under-21 hooker who has deputised well, is among the replacements. But there is no place in the 22 for former South Africa captain Bob Skinstad for the second game in a row amid doubts about his future involvement with the Dragons.
He joined on a short term three-months contract to the end of the season, but has been invol-ved in attempts by a group of mainly South African businessmen to form a new side called London Tribe and take over an English team and base it in London with the aim of getting into the Zurich Premiership.
Rhys Oakley continues on the bench after being a second half replacement against Borders while two props are named in Rod Snow and Rhys Thomas.
Chris Anthony has recovered from a calf injury which meant him missing the second half against Borders, but Thomas is on the bench in case there are any problems.
The match will mark the final game for Dragons captain Andy Marinos before he retires to take over the post of chief executive with the Dragons.
Team: S Tuipulotu, N Brew/B Breeze, P Montgomery, A Marinos (captain), H Luscombe, C Warlow, G Baber, A Black, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, J Ringer, M Owen, J Forster. Replacements: B Breeze/G Arasa, S Winn, R Jones, R Snow, K Crawford, R Thomas, R Oakley.
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