NEWPORT won't want to add another 'if only' to their growing collection when they head to Bedwas in the Principality Premiership tomorrow afternoon.

The Black and Ambers hoped that a victory against Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park on September 27 would kickstart their season.

Instead eighth-placed Newport have endured three frustrating bonus points defeats that could so easily have been hard-fought wins.

They let a lead slip at Bridgend when beaten 29-25, lost 17-14 to Cardiff in the capital after failing to force their way over at the death and were beaten 31-29 by Bridgend at Rodney Parade following a penalty try with the last play.

"It's frustrating because if we had done little things slightly better then we could easily have been enjoying the wins," said backs coach Craig Warlow.

"That's the difference between languishing near the bottom and being at the top but we are not far away, we just need a slight improvement individually and collectively."

Newport will be boosted by the return of influential captain and openside Ollie Griffiths and tighthead Alex Jeffries, who have spent the past fortnight playing for Cross Keys in the British and Irish Cup.

However, fly-half Matt O'Brien has suffered a shoulder injury and could potentially face a long lay-off, leading to 19-year-old summer recruit Julian Mogg getting an opportunity.

"He's a young player with great promise and we will back him to perform," said former Dragons fly-half Warlow. "It's a big game for him but it's also up to the rest of the team to make his job easier.

"Bedwas will try to put the squeeze on us at the set piece and are a dangerous team is they can get their game going."

The teams met at Bridge Field in a British and Irish Cup qualifier at the start of the season when Newport ran out comfortable 41-25 victors.

Failure to qualify for the cross-border competition means that Bedwas, one place above their Gwent rivals with two games in hand, head into this weekend's game on the back of a three-week layoff.

"We are looking forward to it and are raring to go," said head coach Steve Law. "We've had to train harder and do more because of the break so we are raring to go.

"It doesn't get much bigger than a home game against Newport, especially given the situation towards the bottom of the table.

"The performance against them earlier in the season was bitterly disappointing but I'd be amazed if we are as bad as that again."

Bedwas will be boosted the presence of tighthead Joe Mills on the bench. The prop has not yet featured this season because of injury but played for Rumney in Division One East last weekend.