Friday night’s game will be back at Newport Stadium, rather than at Rodney Parade, where the Black & Ambers beat Cardiff 28-14 last weekend. That made it nine consecutive bonus-point wins to keep Morris’ men within touching distance of league leaders Llandovery.
“While it is always great to get one over on Cardiff, we have to stay professional and approach the next game in exactly the same manner,” said Morris.
“We’ve got two huge fixtures coming up against Ebbw Vale and Llandovery and we are determined to finish in the top two to secure a home semi-final. We have to keep pushing hard.
“We’ve got a few tired bodies after the game against Cardiff. It was like a war zone in the dressing room at half-time because both teams threw everything they had at each other.
“No disrespect to Neath, we might rest a few this week to ensure everyone is fit and healthy for the next two games. That said, we won’t be taking Neath lightly and will be looking to extend our winning run.
“We’ve built up some good strength in depth within the squad and we want them all to be fighting for places as we come to the business end of the season.”
Neath have won only three of their 18 games this season and haven’t been included in the teams to contest the new Elite Domestic Competition next season. The two clubs haven’t met this season and after their encounter on 15 March, they will do it all over again at The Gnoll on 6 April.
Pontypridd hosted Merthyr on Thursday, 14 March and came up with a 25-22 win to move to within two points of fourth place. Cardiff, in fourth, have two games in hand, but the pressure is mounting after Ben Burnell’s 76th minute penalty earned Ponty a revenge victory having been beaten 21-15 at The Wern last month.
Cardiff head to Carmarthen Quins on Friday to complete this week’s matches. Newport’s clash with Neath will allow them to make up their game in hand on the table-topping Drovers.
If they can pick up another bonus-point win then they will be able to cut the gap at the top to a mere five points, while extending their lead over the Steelmen in third to 15 points with four games to play in the regular season.
Cardiff are still holding onto fourth place, while Pontypool now find themselves in sixth with six games to play. There is still all to play for to clinch a top four finish.
Llandovery and Newport are already assured of a play-off place, while Ebbw Vale need two more bonus-point wins, or 10 points, to get over the line. Then it is going to be a mad scramble between five teams for that fourth spot.
