Hooker Chris Wells, a long-term injury victim, recently returned to action.

Fellow centre Mark Taylor is also making good progress from his knee problems and should be back soon, whilst Wales full-back Kevin Morgan has targeted a Six Nations comeback against Italy on 15 February.

The Pontypridd man has been out of action since damaging knee ligaments in the Celtic League game with Caerphilly on 28 September.

He told the club's official website: ""I am happy with the way the rehab is going and I have a good chance of making the Six Nations."

Morgan faces a fight to regain the international spot he had made his own after some encouraging performances from Rhys Williams in the autumn internationals.

Williams had been first-choice right wing with Morgan at full-back, but competition has hotted up on the flanks with Craig Morgan, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones all in contention.

Montferrand

Swansea's slim hopes of emerging from their Heineken Cup group were boosted by the news that star French backs Aurelien Rougerie and Tony Marsh will be missing when Montferrand visit St Helen's in January.

Marsh missed the autumn internationals with a groin problem that will keep him out for another two and a half months.

Rougerie has undergone two throat operations after a controversial friendly match with Wasps three months ago.