The 30-year-old lock hasn’t featured for Moffat’s troops since suffering a serious neck injury against Ospreys at the start of March and won’t be around for the trip to Newport.

And Moffat – whose side need to beat the Dragons to keep their hopes of a Magners League play-off place alive – is adamant Hamilton isn’t done yet.

“Even at 30, there are a few years left in Craig rugby-wise,”said Moffat. “It is very frustrating for any player who is told to do nothing at all.

“Craig has just been given clearance to run either on a treadmill or outside and next week will start working with a ball again. After that, he’ll return for another medical examination before resuming contact training.”