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MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport Date: Sunday, 18 April Kick-off: 1705 BST
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Charteris aggravated a neck injury in the defeat at Glasgow Warriors
Dragons and Wales lock Luke Charteris has recovered from a neck injury in time for Sunday's Magners League visit of Edinburgh to Rodney Parade.
Wing Aled Brew is missing with the ankle injury he picked up against the Ospreys, while Adam Jones and Dan Lydiate are out for the season.
Edinburgh bring back Ross Ford at hooker and Ross Rennie reclaims the number seven jersey.
Chris Paterson, Craig Hamilton and Nick De Luca remain sidelined by injury.
Edinburgh, who lost by one point at Connacht two weeks ago, last defeated the Dragons on Welsh soil in May 2006.
"Our record at Newport has not been good over recent seasons, but it is now up to the players to rise to the occasion and put that right," said head coach Rob Moffat.
"Everybody realises how tight the play-off positions are at the moment - every point counts. Nobody was satisfied with what happened at Connacht, but that is now in the past.
Win vital for play-off - Moffat
"We have to move on and deliver the right response. At this stage of the season, every game is like a cup final and we need to make sure we win because it will make a big difference."
Joe Bearman is in an initial 25-man Dragons squad after a long-term groin injury, while Ashley Smith is also in line for a return but Lewis Evans is still not fit to take the field.
The Dragons will look to nail down Heineken qualification and still harbour hopes of a play-off spot.
Paul Turner's side are 10 points clear of bottom Welsh region the Scarlets and two above the Blues in the battle for the Heineken Cup spots, with three games remaining for each side.
Dragons captain Tom Willis says the team must make the most of their penultimate home match of the season.
"The boys are definitely heading in the right direction but we must get Sunday's game right," Willis said.
"Edinburgh have strength right across the park so we are going to need steel and the fantastic home support to see us through."
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Back-rower Bearman has given Turner is back in full training after a long spell out but the Dragons coach feels Sunday could be too soon.
"He may make the bench this weekend," said Turner.
"But it will probably be the Cardiff Blues game on Friday week.
"He is a good experienced guy to have our ranks for the important run-in and will offset the unfortunate injury to Dan Lydiate."
The Ospreys are almost certain of claiming one of the three Welsh places available in Europe's elite competition via the Magners League.
In the race for the league play-offs, the Dragons are sixth on 33 points ahead of the weekend's fixtures, Edinburgh third on 39.
The first-placed team will be home to the fourth and the second-placed team home to the third in the play-off semi-finals.
The Dragons' last four matches in the Magners League have all been won by the home side on the day, while the Welsh side have won eight of their last nine games at Rodney Parade in the league.
"We need to win on Sunday," insists Turner.
Edinburgh's last seven encounters in all competitions have been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Scotsmen's only victory on the road since September was 17-16 at the Scarlets on 4 December.
Dragons beat Edinburgh 9-8 at Murrayfield in November, but have not achieved a league double over the Scotsmen since 2003/4.
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Dragons:
Backs: Martyn Thomas, Will Harries, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Matthew Watkins, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Richard Fussell, James Arlidge, Jason Tovey, Alex Walker, James Leadbeater, Wayne Evans.
Forwards: Hugh Gustafson, Tom Willis (capt), Lloyd Burns, Ben Castle, Pat Palmer, Rob Sidoli, Luke Charteris, Andrew Coombes, Hoani MacDonald, Joe Bearman, Toby Faletau, Gavin Thomas, Grant Webb.
Edinburgh: J Thompson, M Robertson, B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser, P Godman, M Blair (capt), A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, S MacLeod, J Hamilton, A MacDonald, R Rennie, D Callam. Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, S Turnbull/F McKenzie, S Newlands/R Grant, G Laidlaw, D Blair, S Webster/A Turnbull.
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
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