THE Dragons’ Wales trio of Cory Hill, Elliot Dee and Hallam Amos will make a swift return from Six Nations duty in Friday’s Guinness PRO14 clash with the Cheetahs in Newport.

The Rodney Parade region will call upon their internationals in their final home game of the season (kick-off 7.35pm) as they hunt a first league success since September.

Lock Hill started all five Six Nations games – one of just three Welsh players to do so, centre Hadleigh Parkes and scrum-half Gareth Davies the others – while hooker Dee came off the bench four times and made his first Test start against Italy.

Wing/full-back Amos enjoyed a superb autumn campaign, playing all four Tests and scoring against Australia and Georgia, but an ankle injury suffered against Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day meant that he fell down the international pecking order and did not feature in the Championship.

The 23-year-old will also be involved in Friday’s meeting with the play-off-chasing Cheetahs before linking up with Wales sevens ahead of April’s Commonwealth Games.

Head coach Bernard Jackman is thrilled to have the Test trio back in his ranks as the Dragons attempt to strike back from a humiliating 45-13 loss to the previously winless Southern Kings last time out.

“It’s massive for us,” said head coach Bernard Jackman. “Both Cory and Elliot had big campaigns.

“Cory as a leader and has been so important to us, while being part of the Welsh leadership group and the fact he has played so many minutes in the competition will add to that.

“Elliot got capped in November but to become an important part of the Six Nations campaign was huge.

“We are very excited to get them back in and playing for us on Friday, we will give them some time off next week but it’s important for us that they keep going and they wanted to play.

“They have been in touch throughout the Six Nations and are keen to get back and help us get a win.”

The trio will link up with the Dragons tomorrow after sitting out yesterday’s training session, which was moved to the National Centre of Excellence at the Vale Resort because of snow in Ystrad Mynach.

Back row forward Ollie Griffiths (thigh) and scrum-half Sarel Pretorius (illness) are set to return against the Cheetahs after being late withdrawals from the team to face the Kings in Port Elizabeth.

The Dragons will be forced into at least two changes after Wales tighthead Leon Brown (toe) and centre Jack Dixon (elbow) suffered season-ending injuries at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Prop Brown’s blow comes on the back of a concussion suffered when winning his third cap against New Zealand in November and will mean the 21-year-old is not in contention for the summer Tests against South Africa and Argentina.

“We think Leon is one of the most exciting tightheads in the world and he was great for us at the start of the season and we were so happy for him to get capped,” said Jackman.

“Unfortunately he got a concussion that took a long time to clear up then a foot injury against the Kings.

“It’s disappointing but Lloyd Fairbrother, Nicky Thomas and Dan Suter are all fit so there’s no crisis at tighthead – and Lloyd has been having a really big season.”

The Dragons cannot finish higher than sixth in Conference B and will have the support of their rivals from the capital.

Cardiff Blues are fourth in Conference A and currently trail the third-placed Cheetahs by five points.

“If we help them out by doing what’s best for us then that would be nice for Welsh rugby,” said Jackman.