After two bonus-point wins on the road, Newport are back at the Stadium to face a Merthyr side who are not having their usual success. They are in the lower half of the league table but have only played four games and have gained two wins.
The Black & Ambers are fourth in the table, four points below the leaders, but with a game in hand. There is really keen competition among the leading clubs and we need to maintain the pressure.
The coaches make several changes to the starting line-up, the most notable is Matt O’Brien who starts at inside centre.
Newport: Tom Workman, Tyler Olding, Garin Harris, Nick Thomas, Josh Skinner, Rhys Jenkins, Josh Reid, Ben Roach Captain, Dafydd Buckland, Jac Lloyd, Lloyd Lewis, Matt O’Brien, Chay Foster-Smith, Oli Andrew, Ioan Davies.
Replacements: Wade Langley, Aaron Dowse, Dan Suter, Jon Verrier, Louis Pullen, Luke Crane, Carwyn Penny, Oli Woodman.
Referee: Dewi Phillips
AR1: Kristoff Young
AR2: Neil Perkins
Venue: Newport Stadium
Kick-off: 2-30PM