TONGA back rower Solomone Funaki will push for a Dragons debut by featuring for Pontypool in their Super Rygbi Cymru clash with Llandovery on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm).

The 30-year-old signed from Moana Pasifika in the summer but is yet to feature due to a knee injury.

Funaki had surgery to clean out an existing issue with the aim of hitting the ground running for his new club only to then suffer an infection.

The hard-hitting Tongan, who featured at the 2023 World Cup, has returned to full training and has warmed up with the Dragons before recent games.

He will now aim to give boss Filo Tiatia a nudge by impressing off the bench for Pooler against Premiership champions Llandovery at Church Bank.

If he goes well the Tongan could come into contention for the United Rugby Championship fixture against Munster at Rodney Parade a week on Saturday, or failing that against Glasgow and Zebre Parma during the Six Nations.

Funaki isn’t the only Dragon sent out for SRC with a challenge of catching the eye.

Jordan Williams will play for Pontypool (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

Frozen-out full-back Jordan Williams starts while scrum-half Dane Blacker, who has fallen behind the promising pair of Che Hope and Morgan Lloyd, is on the bench.

Former Wales centre Scott Williams, who has been training with the Dragons, makes another outing at 12 with Sam Scarfe back at hooker.

Pooler are aiming to upset the odds against a Llandovery side who will go to the top of the table with victory.

Funaki will pack a punch off the bench but the visitors have plenty of their own hard-running back row forwards with Morgan Allen and Scott Matthews set to lead the charge.

Pontypool came close to stunning the Drovers on the opening weekend of the SRC but failed to crash over at the death in a 21-18 defeat.

Pontypool: Jordan Williams; Marcus Jones, Joel Mahoney, Scott Williams, Matthew Powell; Kieran Meek, Owain Leonard; Sam Cochrane, Sam Scarfe, Harry Drane, Ieuan Jones, Dan Hill, Scott Matthews, Mike Herbert (captain), Morgan Allen.

Replacements: Dan Morgan, Kyan Best, Kelvyn Williams, Solomone Funaki, Adam Stratton, Dane Blacker, Amosa Nove, Jordan Thomas.