BOSS Dean Ryan is confident that the Dragons can strike a balance with Wales Sevens for the services of in-form wing Owen Jenkins this season, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 26-year-old arrived at the region in the summer for the Celtic Cup campaign but made an immediate impression on the management team.

With Jared Rosser out because of a knee injury, Jenkins has started all three of the Guinness PRO14 fixtures and is set to line up on the right flank against Glasgow at Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Jenkins scored a brace in the win against Zebre and produced a wonderful assist for Taine Basham against Connacht last time out.

The World Rugby Sevens Series starts in Dubai in December and the national squad held a training camp last week.

The speedster is contracted to the Welsh Rugby Union and was Wales' top try scorer last season, but will split his time between the formats in the build up to next year's Olympics in Tokyo.

South Wales Argus:

"We've been in dialogue with Wales Sevens because Owen has expressed an interest in trying to get a foothold in 15s," said director of rugby Ryan.

"That's very much part of what the sevens programme is about, so we have been in constant dialogue and if he is competitive here and getting chances here then they are pretty happy.

"They have got some core tournaments that they want him available for, but we are getting that balance right at the moment.

"He is enjoying his 15s rugby and he is playing well, but at the same time there will be some periods when he has to go back and play for the sevens side. Hopefully across the year we get that combination right."

Jenkins is set to start against the Warriors on Saturday and the Dragons are hopeful that loosehead Brok Harris will be declared fit after a concussion against Connacht.

Ryan Bevington (knee) and Aaron Jarvis (hamstring) are sidelined, leaving prospect Josh Reynolds and summer signing Jack Cosgrove as propping options.

Wales Under-20s international Reynolds is rated highly and came off the bench against Zebre in round two but spent last weekend with Newport in the Premiership.

"That's the challenge of here, this isn't a side that has got a huge amount of either senior guys at the top. We've got to try to keep closing the gap to the youngsters behind," said Ryan.

"There are definitely times that are right for development, but at the same time if we lose a player then we have to get somebody in and that's an opportunity.

"I think that we are getting that balance right and we are trying to keep giving them exposure and rotate around, because otherwise they will stop learning because of the pressure they are under."