The 27-year-old has been sidelined since dislocating his shoulder in Wales' 47-13 RBS 6 Nations loss to England at Twickenham at the start of February, but the British & Irish Lion is confident he will return to action in the best shape, and hopefully form, of his life.

''I've been training hard for the last 10 weeks working on leg strength, speed and fitness, so I'm raring to go,'' he told www.wru.co.uk

''I should really be in the best condition ever, I've had a chance to rest and improve everything.''

Cooper is also keen to reclaim his place in the national side but knows it will be a tough task to dislodge current incumbent Dwayne Peel, while Mike Cooper impressed on the recent tour to Argentina.

''I've probably lost a bit of ground but the Wales scrum-half position is always highly contested and any one of us can get the jersey,'' Cooper added.

''The first thing for me is to get back playing for the Dragons but my higher ambition is to gain that number nine jersey for Wales.''