RICHIE Rees is poised to come back into fray for Newport Gwent Dragons’ Guinness Pro12 clash with Edinburgh at Rodney Parade on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm).

The 31-year-old former Wales scrum-half has not featured since coming off the bench against Connacht in February and has watched Bath-bound Jonathan Evans wear the 9 jersey with Luc Jones as his back-up.

But after almost three months on the sidelines Rees, who has been offered the position of academy skills coach by the Dragons, is set to feature against his former side Edinburgh.

However, it looks unlikely that Rodney Parade favourite Ian Gough will get one last hurrah in Newport.

The 38-year-old is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season after a career spanning 20 campaigns and featuring 139 appearances for Newport and 102 for the Dragons.

Gough, who made his debut in May 1996 alongside Black and Ambers legend David Waters, earned a late call-up to the bench against Edinburgh in the Challenge Cup semi-final loss last month but is not likely to be involved on Friday given that the ninth-placed Dragons need a victory to ensure they finish above Cardiff Blues.

There is little room for sentimentality in professional sport – as was shown last season when veteran lock Robert Sidoli was an unused replacement because the finale against Treviso was in the balance – and Lyn Jones’ side have a crushing defeat to avenge following the 45-16 humbling at Murrayfield.

The Scots, who lost to Gloucester in the final last weekend, dismantled the Rodney Parade side up front and will once again look to put the squeeze on the Dragons’ tight five.

Influential loosehead Boris Stankovich remains a doubt with a calf injury meaning that Luke Garrett could get the chance to build on his promising regional debut against the Scarlets a fortnight ago.

The 20-year-old Cross Keys front rower, like Ebbw Vale full-back Carl Meyer, could feature off the bench before playing in the Principality Premiership semi-final at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday evening.

The season is over for centres Pat Leach (knee) and Ashley Smith (concussion) as well as wing Aled Brew (groin).

The Dragons have won their last three games at Rodney Parade – thrillers against Ulster, Cardiff Blues and Leinster – and another home success would ensure they are the toast of Llanelli.

The sixth-placed Scarlets are tussling with seventh-placed Edinburgh for the final automatic spot in next season’s Champions Cup.

“Edinburgh are playing for a place in Europe so have plenty of motivation but ours is pride and finishing the season on a high,” said Jones.

“We are looking ahead already to the next campaign and ensuring that we get the foundations right and step into next season confident.”