TALISMAN Ollie Griffiths will return for the Dragons against the Ospreys in the Rainbow Cup on Sunday.

The dynamic back row forward has endured another injury hit campaign after being out with a hamstring strain in August then suffering a blow to his ankle against Wasps in December just as he was putting himself on the Wales radar.

Once-capped Griffiths missed a chance to push into the Six Nations fold but returned in March only to then suffer a bicep injury against Glasgow at Principality Stadium.

The 26-year-old from Newbridge has worked his way back to fitness and will lead the charge against the Ospreys at Rodney Parade (kick-off 1pm).

Griffiths has played just seven times this season but has been a man of the match contender on pretty much every occasion.

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"The Ollie situation is that everybody shares the desire to see him consistently play," admitted director of rugby Dean Ryan.

"He knows that but the problem when have a poor injury record is that when you get a bump then everybody thinks it's really serious.

"A couple of weeks ago he had a bump, we took our time with getting him back. He was probably fit a week ago but we didn't pick him, so he is desperate to get out there.

"We saw when he came back after a significant injury the impact he can have in games. His performance out in Ulster [in October], given the time that he had been away, was phenomenal.

"That's the type of player he is and I want to get him in a situation where he is playing regularly so we can help him get better.

"That's the frightening thing, how good Ollie can be because I don't think we have ever seen him in a consistent run to be able to develop off the back of things that he has done."

The Dragons have fielded a trio of contenders for Wales summer action at the start of the Rainbow Cup with fit-again Taine Basham joining Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty.

Strong-running number eight Dan Baker, who is yet to make a start, is in the mix to face his former Ospreys teammates after agreeing terms for another season at Rodney Parade.

“We have got great talent in that area and they are driving each other on to higher and higher performances,” said Ryan.