NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are poised to unleash a pair of bruise brothers on the wings at the start of the season.

The region may be short of numbers out wide but they insist they will still be packing a punch in the shape of a former cage fighter and an imposing 20-year-old with stats to rival those of Wales flyer George North.

Mike Poole and Matthew Pewtner have both impressed in the colours of Newport in the Premiership.

The former has a strike rate of 47 tries in 102 games for the Black and Ambers while the latter, who has made four regional appearances, crossed the whitewash 12 times last season.

They have caught the eyes of the Dragons coaching staff in pre-season training and, with Aled Brew a World Cup possible and Will Harries sidelined with a knee injury, they are set to get a chance to showcase their talent on the regional stage.

And skills coach Shaun Connor is backing them to make a big impact in more ways that one.

He said: “There are not many runners like Shane Williams or Will Harries these days, it’s all about power and these two certainly have that – both of them run their weight.

“Matthew is a big, powerful man who could be for us what Tommy Bowe and Nikki Walker are for the Ospreys.

“He is seriously rapid – 4.6 seconds for 40 metres – and is well over 6ft and close to 100 kilos.

“He is as quick as anything in Wales and we would love him to take the bull by the horns and do what he has done with Newport.

“The same goes for Pooley, he is a hard man and always impressed me when I played with him at Newport.

“He is a clever player and runs great lines but his biggest attribute is his hunger for the game – I don’t think he knows the meaning of defeat.

“He probably thought that his chance to play for the Dragons had gone but he has fought back from a serious injury (he ruptured knee ligaments last summer) and is set to get his reward.”

Other alternatives would be playing centre Adam Hughes or full-backs Martyn Thomas and Jamie Smith out of position.

Meanwhile Connor, who is still going to don the boots for Pontypool in the Premiership this season at the age of 35, believes the early signs are promising for a good campaign at the Parade.

The Dragons return to training on Monday after a week off as they begin to work towards their Pro12 opener against Munster.

“This has been one of the best pre-seasons I have been involved with,” said the former Ospreys fly-half.

“The beauty of this group of players is that there are no egos and they are all very keen to learn.

“The spirit in the camp is second to none and we can’t wait to get back on Monday and work towards that first game.”