It was the Ravens who were the last side to beat Matt O’Brien’s men, 27-24 at the Brewery Field on 28 January, and a season’s double would provide further evidence of the visitors’ development this season under head coach Tom Smith.
The Black & Ambers halted Merthyr’s unbeaten run at Rodney Parade on Saturday to move even closer to the play-off places and they will replace Ebbw Vale in fourth place if they can gain revenge over the Ravens.
Currently in sixth with 59 points, the game will take Newport onto the same number of games as three of the other five teams fighting for a semi-final ticket, 19, while top of the table Llandovery and fifth placed Aberavon have played 20.
The games may be coming thick and fast for O’Brien and co, with two a week this month, but they have to play bottom of the table Llanelli home and away and then Llandovery to complete their 22 games. Pushing for a home semi-final with a top two finish might be beyond them, but if they can finish in the top four it will keep alive their dreams of a league and cup double.
They are due to meet arch-rivals Cardiff in the WRU Premiership Cup final at Principality Stadium on Sunday, 23 April. They won the title last year and are favourites to make it back-to-back triumphs.
Tom Workman starts at loosehead tonight, while Jon Morris comes straight in to his usual wing position after missing a few games due to injury. There is a debut for second row, Barney Langton, and a possible debut off the bench for prop, Conall Couch.
Bridgend will arrive hoping to build on last weekend’s 47-12 win at Llanelli last weekend’s success over basement side Llanelli last time out. With three games in seven days, Tom Smith has been forced to reshuffle the squad and makes 12 changes to Saturday’s starting fifteen.
Caine Woolerton comes in at 15, having appeared in the position from the bench on Saturday. Ryan Edwards and Cameron Ellis are selected on the wing, with Rhys Williams captaining the side from 12, alongside Joseph Gatt.
There’s a first start for Harri Ford at No 10 as he forms a new half-back partnership with Connor Tantum. Cardiff University prop Ed Thompson starts at loosehead with Evan Yardley and Liam Tobias, his front row compatriots.
Jack Pope is paired with debutant Dylan Burrows in the second row, with Aled Evans, Dafi Davies and Reuben Tucker the back row.
Newport: Geraint O’Driscoll; Jon Morris, Chay Foster-Smith, Harri Ackerman, Elliot Frewen; Matt O’Brien (captain), Che Hope; Tom Workman, James Benjamin, Dan Suter, Barney Langton, Craig Hudd, Lennon Greggains, Josh Reid, Ben Roach
Reps: Henry Palmer, Thomas Davies, Conall Couch, John Verrier, Kyle Tayler, Dafydd Buckland, Matt Buckland, Jacob Lloyd
Bridgend: Caine Woolerton; Ryan Edwards, Joe Gatt, Rhys Williams (captain), Cameron Ellis; Harri Ford, Connor Tantum; Ed Thompson, Evan Yardley, Liam Tobias, Dylan Burrows, Jack Pope, Aled Evans, Dafi Davies, Reuben Tucker
Reps: Jack Walker, Harry Olding, Rhodri Apsee, Kieran Martin, Iestyn Merriman, Jakob Williams, Luke Price, Stuart Floyd Ellis
