AFTER coming up short in a crunch Principality Premiership basement clash against Aberavon the heat has intensified on Newport as they prepare to host the Wizards in the Swalec Cup on Sunday.

The Black and Ambers are rock bottom of the league after last weekend's 20-16 loss to their fellow strugglers at the Talbot Athletic Ground and have fixtures against title hopefuls Carmarthen Quins and champions Pontypridd looming.

Newport are set for a fourth successive bottom-half finish but are likely to be saved from a fate similar to Swansea, who were relegated last season, because Bargoed are running away with the Swalec Championship and do not have the criteria for promotion.

But the natives are understandably restless regardless of the drop and another cup failure – Newport haven't reached the quarter-finals since 2011 – will lead to more calls for the sacking of head coach Sven Cronk.

"I appreciate that there's pressure on me and that's part and parcel of the job. The buck stops with me," said the former Black and Ambers prop.

"A cup run would do us the power of good while in the league we need to turn our narrow losses – we've had six losing bonus points from our last eight defeats – into wins so that we can climb the table.

"I can't fault the players and they are scrapping for everything at the moment when it would be quite easy for them to fold.

"It's tough because we are having to play people out of position because of injuries and have been struggling at 10, a vital position.

"We signed Dai Flanagan at the start of the season but that fell through (when the former Pontypridd fly-half took a job with the Scarlets academy) and then Matt O'Brien was turning heads with his performances only to injure his shoulder.

"I know that we are a better side than our recent form but we have had no luck with injuries at 10, 12, 13, 2 and 8. All you can do is keep going and I am sure that the players will soon get the rewards for their effort."

Newport chairman Will Godfrey has given his backing to Cronk and his management team, praising their work ethic in challenging times along with the endeavour of the squad.

"I understand why people are restless, and I certainly don't enjoy heading home after losing, but the amount of work going in behind the scenes is enormous," he said. "I know how much effort is being put in and if they weren't trying it would be a different matter.

"Their hands have been tied by having a limited squad because of so many injuries and then last week at Aberavon we suffered through unavailability (because of Wales Under-20s call-ups and the late withdrawal of Dragons tighthead David Young).

"We've not been getting the rub of the green and it's frustrating but if supporters want to come to a training session and see how much work goes into it then they are more than welcome; it's not just a case of them turning up and running around a field."

Newport's fly-half problems aren't helped by the unavailability of bright Dragons prospect Angus O'Brien while centre Jamie Murphy, who had been covering at 10, has been banned for 12 weeks following his red card at Llandovery last month. Teenager Julian Mogg is set to get the nod.

The news is brighter in midfield with Dan Robinson back in the mix after a cameo off the bench last weekend while Nathan Edwards and Dom Franchi are a fortnight away from a return.