JASON Forster and Gareth Cooper return to the Newport Gwent Dragons squad for Saturday's final Heineken Cup pool game against Castres at Rodney Parade (5.15pm).

Dragons captain Forster missed the match against Sale last week because of a recurring groin problem while Cooper was out because he needed an injection in the ankle which has been troubling him on and off for the past nine months.

Both are resuming training this week, but the Dragons management will wait to see if there is any reaction to their injuries before finalising the side.

They may have to be content with a place on the bench, particularly after the way Gareth Baber and Jamie Ringer played at Sale, for a match which has nothing on it but is important for the Dragons nonetheless.

It is a game they need to win in order to avoid being whitewashed in the Heineken pool matches, a fate which neither Newport nor the Dragons have met before.

The Dragons are on just one point, five behind Castres whose only victory was against the Dragons at home, and they are way behind leaders Sale on 23 points and Munster on 18 who meet in what should be a thriller at Thomond Park at the same time on Saturday.

But the Dragons are at least on a winning run at Rodney Parade this year after winning both Celtic League games there, against the Ospreys (24-14) and Connacht (27-19).

They now need to transfer some of their away form where they have performed nobly against Castres, Munster and Sale, to their home base.

And they could do with some more points, having been restricted to 19 at Rodney Parade by Sale and Munster.

Front five players who were left out at Sale and went on in the second half could well start this time at home - Adam Black, Rhys Thomas and Ian Gough, though David Maddocks, Gethin Robinson and Bryn Griffiths all did well enough against the Guinness Premiership leaders.

Sale wing Mark Cueto has paid tribute to the Dragons for their efforts. "I was glad to end my try drought with two against a spirited Gwent Dragons side and though they may be bottom of the group they made us fight for the win and often made things difficult for us," he said.

Dragons squad: A Thomas, R Fussell, H Luscombe, S Tuipulotu, J Bryant, B Breeze, C Sweeney, C Warlow, G Baber, G Cooper, A Black, D Maddocks, S Jones, A Brown, R Thomas, G Robinson, I Gough, B Griffiths, P Sidoli, A Hall, M Owen, J Ringer, R Oakley, J Forster.