WALES have earmarked the Newport Gwent Dragons duo of Harri Keddie and Leon Brown as stars of the future and have told them to be inspired by working alongside the autumn squad.

Back row forward Keddie, 20, from Llanvaches, and tighthead Brown, 20 tomorrow, from Maesglas, will spend the week helping Rob Howley's squad prepare for their November dates.

The duo were part of last season's Grand Slam winning Wales Under-20s squad and have been invited to train with the seniors along with Ospreys winger Keelan Giles and Cardiff Blues full-back Rhun Williams.

Keddie, who has played four times for the Dragons this season, will be put through his paces next to the likes of Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate and Justin Tipuric while Brown, yet to make his senior bow, will work with fellow props Gethin Jenkins, Samson Lee Rhys Gill and Tomas Francis.

They have been doing unit work on the rugby paddock as well as conditioning in the gym, and forwards coach Robin McBryde hopes it will give them a glimpse of what will be needed to be a proper member of the Test squad.

"They were good performers for the Under-20s and it's good to see them in a different light and give them this experience," said the former hooker.

"Hopefully they can kick on from this, not only from the rugby but the physical stuff in the gym, being able to measure themselves against the international players surrounding them.

"When we do a fitness run, put Leon next to Gethin Jenkins and Samson Lee and see how he fares against them.

"That will hopefully give him a little bit more of a spurt and there will be a realisation when he is lying in bed at night that he has to improve on this, that or the other.

"First-hand experience (is invaluable) because unless you have been involved it's impossible to know (what it's like).

"It doesn't matter how much people talk about certain environments and certain squads, unless you are there and take everything in you are always second guessing."

The pair will be brought through slowly by the Dragons this season with Keddie heading to the Vale of Glamorgan headquarters fresh from a first senior start as number eight against Enisei in Russia. Brown could make his debut in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in November.

McBryde emphasised that the quartet of youngsters are some way off international call-ups but believes the experience with the big boys can help them thrive at their regions.

He said: "Potentially we see them as future international players. They are not necessarily the next cab on the rank, they are players that we feel will benefit from being in and around the squad.

"Anything that they can learn at this age will hopefully pay dividends in the future. To be part of the training and get a feel for it will hopefully fire a little bit more of a flame inside them and they will be even hungrier to reach here and get involved as part of the main squad."