Having won at Parc y Scarlets in the first half of the season, Craig Warlow’s side were beaten 26-9 at home in a game that propelled the west Walians into the top four. Now they will travel east once again with renewed confidence and with their eyes on a place in the Tier 2 final.
Newport went into that game already confirmed in the play-offs and with an unbeaten run. But they then lost at home to Cross Keys and need to regain their poise to progress.
“We’re absolutely ready to go. This is an opportunity for the current group of players to sign off as a squad in a positive manner,” said Black & Ambers head coach Warlow.
“We know that our performances against Llanelli and Keys weren’t good enough but this is a chance for us to win something for the club.”
Neath will have home advantage in the second semi-final over Keys. Their 21-10 win over Bridgend at The Gnoll earned them a home draw in the play-offs and team manager Martyn Morris is looking for another big effort from his pack.
“Our forwards really rose to the challenge against Bridgend and we are looking for another big effort from the team as a whole so that there is some reward for all the efforts the squad have put in this season,” said Morris.
“It would be nice to give our supporters something to cheer too and we hope as many as possible come to The Gnoll on Sunday to lend a hand.”
Missing from the game will be wing Alec Jenkins, who injured his leg in an accident at work. He is replaced in the starting XV by Geraint Llewellyn.
“We have come a long way from where we were last season to effectively finish joint ninth this time around. But we want to keep improving and Cross Keys are a good yardstick as they have been one of the Premiership forces for a long time now,” said Neath captain Jordan Collier.
In the regular league season Keys comfortably defeated Neath 48-3 in September. The return game finished up in an even more convincing 59-14 triumph for the Welsh All Blacks, although Keys won their cup tie 29-10 on home soil.
Newport: Geraint O’Driscoll; Wes Cunliffe, Chay Smith, Tom Pascoe, Jonathan Morris; Matt O’Brien, Ryan James; Nicky Boyce, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, James Little, Dan Partridge, Dan Mock, Kyle Tayler, Rhys Jenkins
Reps: Evan Whitson, Matt Prosser, Tom Piper, Lennon Greggains, Adam Brown, Owen Davies, Tom Riley, Llywarch Ap Myrddin
Llanelli: Dion Jones; Ashley Evans, Ryan Davies, Nathan Edwards, Thomas Rogers; Ioan Hughes, Matt Flanagan; Rhys Thomas (captain), Taylor Davies, Tom Kaijaks, Chris Long, Ben Davies, Nathan Hart, Dan Davis, Jack Condy
Reps: Rhys Fawcett, Craig Thomas, Dan Jacobs, Jack Davies, Lloyd Pike, Scott Maynard, Jonathon Jenkins, Jake Newman
Neath: Ed Howley; Aaron Grabham, Max Llewellyn, Matthew Pearce, Geraint Llewellyn; Gavin Evans, Chris Morgans; Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Ryan Thomas, Rhys Jones, Jon Barley, Jordan Collier (captain), Leon Ward, Charlie Davies
Reps: Ifan Phillips, Neil White, Geraint James, Jonny Griffiths, Aled Morris, Josh Guy, Iwan Evans, Kristian Corbisiero
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews; Barney Nightingale, Lewis Barnett, Phil Williams, Nathan Trowbridge; Josh Prosser, Owain Leonard; Lewis Smout, Rob Jones, Richard Cornock, Danny Hodge, Tom Lampard, Darren Hughes, Scott Matthews (captain), Ieuan Jones
Reps: Adam Powell, Gwesyn Price-Jones, Gary Carpenter, Josh Skinner, Rhys Fitzgerald, James McCarthy, James Leadbeater, Corey Howells
