The Scarlets have named a 24-man squad ahead of their Magners League game at Rodney Parade on New Year’s Day and Jones is absent due to a damaged thumb.
The Dragons have an injury crisis with Richard Parks suffering suspected medial ligament damage in the loss at Cardiff Blues. Fellow flanker Jamie Ringer is having checks on a shoulder injury and centre Rhodri Gomer Davies has a foot injury.
With Nic Fitisemanu already on the long-term injury list with a ripped bicep muscle and Dan Lydiate recovering from a neck injury, the Dragons are down to the bare bones in the back row.
Michael Owen, Colin Charvis and Andrew Hall are the only available recognised senior back-rowers for the clash with the Scarlets. Coach Paul Turner will have to turn to some of his up-and-coming players to plug the gaps in his match 22, with James Harris and Lewis Evans the most likely.
The Dragons have won only one game from their last nine, and just one in their last seven derbies against fellow Welsh regions – a 30-23 victory at the Scarlets on September 1st.
As they seek a first ever double over the West Wales region, they will be boosted by the Scarlets’ poor away form, their last win on the road in Leinster on October 5th.
But the league is the West Walians’ last hope of silverware this season, and they have won four of their last five in the competition. The final line-up will be confirmed following late fitness tests.
Scarlets: Morgan Stoddart; Dafydd James, Regan King, Jon Davies, Mark Jones; Rhys Priestland, Dwayne Peel; Iestyn Thomas, James Hayter, Bruce Douglas, Vernon Cooper, Scott Macleod, Simon Easterby (Capt), James Bater, Nathan Thomas
Replacements: Deacon Manu, Daniel George, Adam Eustace, Dafydd Jones, Liam Davies, Ceiron Thomas, Nathan Brew, Matthew Watkins, Phil John
Dragons: Kevin Morgan; Richard Fussell, Paul Emerick, Ashley Smith, Richard Mustoe; Ceri Sweeney, A N Other; Huw Gustafson, Steve Jones, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Peter Sidoli, Colin Chavis (Capt), Michael Owen, A N Other
Replacements: Ben Daly, Adam Black, Andy Hall, Lewis Evans, James Harris, Phillip Dollman, James Lewis, Aled Thomas, Andy Williams, Alex Walker, Robert Lewis
