LOCK Ashley Sweet is set to make his return from injury for the Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select XV against Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday afternoon.

The 27-year-old has been out of action since rupturing a pectoral muscle while playing for Ebbw Vale at Merthyr in October.

Sweet, who earned a one-year deal with the Dragons thanks to his exploits in helping the Steelmen win the Principality Premiership title last season, will hope to shine in the British and Irish Cup in order to get a shot with the first team in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at the end of the month.

He is joined on the comeback trail at Vallis Way by scrum-half Charlie Davies, who has not played since the European Rugby Challenge Cup loss to Enisei in October because of a broken thumb.

The Dragons are gunning for revenge against the Trailfinders after being stung by a late penalty when the sides met at Cross Keys' Pandy Park in October.

Centre Barney Nightingale scored a hat-trick in the clash with the England Championship side but they had to settle for a losing bonus point when Aaron Penberthy's penalty five minutes from time earned the visitors a 28-27 win.

"It was one that we felt we should have won but it showed where we were in terms of our experience," said academy boss James Chapron.

"We over-played in areas and allowed the game to get away from us against a very well-coached Ealing side.

"We made mistakes that they took advantage of and it was a game to show the fine margins at higher levels to our young players."

The Dragons will be attempting to match Cross Keys' achievement from October, 2013. The Pandy Park side left Ealing with five points after a 24-15 win that featured tries by lock Danny Hodge and back row forwards Ieuan Jones and Tom Lampard (2).

But Ealing, fourth in the Championship, are a formidable unit and are unbeaten in the tournament this season while the Dragons would need a freak set of results to sneak into the quarter-finals.

"It's going to be a huge challenge for us because we believe they will be picking a strong team," said Chapron.

"If you don't slow a big side down on a 3G pitch you will be in trouble while Ealing have more than a drive to their game with the likes of (former Wales and Dragons wing) Will Harries and (ex-Cross Keys utility back) James Cordy-Redden able to expose sides defensively when running.

"This should be a good test and this competition has been good for us. There is no chance of us approaching these two games as though there is nothing to play for and we want to finish strongly with two good results and performances."

The Dragons name their side this afternoon (FRI).