NEWPORT are hoping to find strength through adversity as they attempt to secure a much-needed Principality Premiership win against Llanelli, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Black and Ambers are looking nervously over their shoulder at bottom club Neath after last weekend's 29-16 defeat at Bedwas.

Newport took a risk by rearranging fixtures to fill an empty period while others were playing in the British and Irish Cup. It has backfired with them having just seven points from seven fixtures.

They are in desperate need of a win against Llanelli and their hopes aren't helped by a lengthy list of absentees.

They have been hard hit by injuries to influential back row forward Brendam Lampitt and in-form fly-half Matt O'Brien while they will also be without skipper and openside Ollie Griffiths and wing Ashton Hewitt, who are on Dragons duty against Ulster.

Newport do benefit from the presence of Dragons front row forward Hugh Gustafson, although the region have requested that he is primarily used as a hooker rather than a loosehead.

"Injuries are killing us at the minute but we have to be galvanised by the situation and stay tight," said head coach Sven Cronk.

"We are in a tough spot but we are confident that we will work our way through it."

"We have got to be better than we were at Bedwas," he continued. "Basic elements of our game let us down.

"We had lost the previous three games by a total of nine points, so that shows we are not far away, but we cannot afford another performance like last week. We failed to hold onto the ball and the number of turnovers was unacceptable."

Newport have a three-week break after tomorrow's game before a crunch encounter with Neath on November 22.

All teams near the bottom will be closely monitoring this weekend's Championship clash between Swansea and leaders Bargoed at St Helen's

The unbeaten visitors do not have the criteria for promotion, meaning there will be no relegation if there are title celebrations at Bargoed Park in April.