NEWPORT will be looking to pick up where they left off last week when they travel to face Newcastle for their return British and Irish Cup clash at Kingston Park on Sunday.

The Black and Ambers were superb in the second half of last week’s 26-10 defeat against the mighty Falcons.

The won the second half 7-0 against the Championship outfit who are destined for an immediate return to the Aviva Premiership, Dean Richards’ side having triumphed in all of their 14 games in league and cup this season.

Newport head coach Sven Cronk is under no illusion as to how difficult their mission is.

“It is going to be a huge task for us but we won’t be waving the white flag and we’re determined to go out there and give a good account of ourselves,” he said.

“And we go up there as total underdogs with nothing to lose.”

Prop and captain Gethin Robinson is expected to lead his side again this weekend after making his comeback game against Newcastle six days ago.

The tighthead had a very decent game, playing in the first 40 minutes after missing three months of the season with a torn bicep.

“Gethin was only supposed to play five to ten minutes last week but he just kept going and going,” Cronk said.

“His performance was a major positive from last week’s game.”

Newport have some injury worries in the back row. Brendan Lampitt and Craig Everett picked up knocks to the calf and elbow respectively last week.

While Cronk hopes that both will be fit for Sunday, he will be without Ross Coombs (knee) and Sam Waldron (broken arm).

There were hopes that wing/full back Alan Awcock would be back this week after he sustained a head injury in the defeat away at Bedwas at the end of November.

It is more likely he will be back for the big derby with Cardiff at Rodney Parade a week tonight (kick-off 7.15pm).