NEWPORT Gwent Dragons tight head prop Rhys Thomas has been called into the Wales training squad for a two-day session next week.

Thomas is promoted because of injuries to Chris Horsman, the English-born and bred Worcester and former Celtic Warriors prop who has just qualified for Wales on residency after recovering from cancer, and Ben Broster, the Saracens player who went on Wales' North American tour in the summer.

"I'm very happy, it came as a bit of a shock," said Thomas. "I've got to try to knuckle down and play my best. Hopefully that will pay some dividends."

Thomas, born and bred in South Africa of Welsh parents, starred for the Wales Under-21 team two years ago but was passed over in favour of Broster for Wales' tour.

"That was my fault, I wasn't too fit at the end of last season," admitted Thomas.

"But now he has settled into the Dragons team after a difficult first full season and is the only member of the pack to play in all five games, making it six out of six at Northampton tomorrow.

"I'm still feeling fresh, I enjoy playing, the more I play the better I am. It'll be another test against Tom Smith (Scotland's experienced British Lion) tomorrow, but I aim to keep it going," he said.

Thomas joins fellow Dragons Kevin Morgan, Hal Luscombe, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Cooper, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris and Michael Owen as Wales training squad members ahead of the official squad announcement for the Autumn internationals scheduled for October 24.

Their involvement in Wales training on Monday and Tuesday will mean the Dragons have only Wednesday to prepare with their full squad for the crucial Celtic League game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield next Friday night.

Northampton open a 500-seat extension to their south stand when they host the Dragons, making the ground capacity 13,600.

The Saturday night kick-off will mitigate against a full house, but an 11,000 crowd is still expected for the Dragons visit, especially after their victory over Leicester last week.

Northampton are virtually at full strength and field a back division which Dragons player Sweeney calls "one to die for."

Carlos Spencer, one of the great names of New Zealand rugby, is at outside half along with compatriots Bruce Reihana and Mark Robinson with England's Ben Cohen and Scotland's Sean Lamont on the wings and David Quinlan of Ireland in the centre.

England hooker Steve Thompson continues on the flank, and the only change is at prop where Chris Budgen steps in for the injured Colin Noon.

Team: B Reihana, S Lamont, J Clarke, D Quinlan, B Cohen, C Spencer, M Robinson, T Smith, D Richmond, C Budgen, S Boome, D Browne, S Thompson, M Soden, D Fox. Replacements: D Hartley, B Sturgess, D Gerard, S Harding, J Howard, R Davies, S Mallon. Kick off 6pm.