NEWPORT GWENT Dragons have received a boost going into tonight's Celtic League game against Munster in Cork.
Hooker Steve Jones has passed a fitness test on the hip injury he suffered against Castres last week which forced him off in the second half and takes his place in an unchanged front row.
It means Andrew Brown will be on the bench and young Academy hooker Richard Wilkes will be one of the two spare players the Dragons always take with them on away trips.
But scrum half Gareth Baber, who was a replacement, is out with the same flu virus that laid him low around Christmas.
James Ireland hasn't played all season because of a serious knee injury, so the Dragons call up Newport's Wales Under-19s scrum half Alix Walker for the bench.
It's rapid promotion for Walker, still not 20, because he has only just returned after breaking a collar bone playing for Newport against Carmarthen in September.
In fact, he's made just eight starts for Newport so, if Gareth Cooper is injured tonight, it will be a major step-up for the teenager.
Munster are still not sure about two positions in their back division. They have bracketed former Springbok Trevor Halstead and Gary Connolly at inside centre while either Paul Burke, who has been on the injured list, or Mossie Lawlor will play at outside half.
Two positions on the bench have been left open depending on which of the two players above is in the actual team.
Munster are without the majority of their pack because of Ireland commitments, but can still call on major 'senior citizens' like skipper and number eight Anthony Foley and lock Mick O'Driscoll.
Team: S Payne, I Dowling, B Murphy, T Halstead/G Connolly, A Horgan, M Lawlor/P Burke, T O'Leary, F Roche, D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, T Hogan, M O'Driscoll, S Keogh, A Foley (captain), J O'Connor. Replacements: T Buckley, D Valey, D Ryan, A Kavanagh, M Prendergast, AN Other, AN Other. KO 5.30pm.
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