CROSS Keys will have to put the frustration of a growing injury list to one side tonight as they scrap for a place in the Principality Premiership tier two play-offs.

The Pandy Park outfit take on Newport at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7.30pm) knowing a win, in what is the last game of the regular season for both, is required to secure a top-four berth.

While the hosts lie first in the table, already guaranteed a play-off semi-final next weekend, Keys are fifth, two points behind fourth-placed Neath, who entertain Bridgend, in third, on Friday.

Keys and Newport were in poor form last Saturday with the two teams suffering home defeats to Cardiff and Llanelli respectively.

Adam Powell missed Keys’ 33-10 loss to Cardiff but could be back this evening, however, Matthew Powell is out after breaking his cheekbone.

On top of that, Scott Andrews looks like he might be set for shoulder surgery, Rhys Fitzgerald also has a shoulder problem and Corey Hewlett is nursing a bang to the head.

Nathan Williams is another Keys player sidelined by injury, while Lloyd Lewis and Josh Skinner are in Ireland with Wales Sevens and James Leadbeater is getting married.

“Our squad is quite low on numbers at the moment,” said Keys director of rugby Jonathan Westwood.

“We’ve got quite a few injuries and people unavailable.

“But we’ll pick ourselves up and go one last time, and if we win we’ll be in the play-offs.

“More importantly, it’s a game of rugby, a derby match, and it means a lot to us.”

Newport head coach Craig Warlow saw his side’s perfect record in tier two come to an end last time out as they were beaten 26-9 on home soil.

While the Black and Ambers are looking to bounce back after a first reverse in six league outings, Keys will want to arrest a run of three losses in all competitions.

And Newport chief Warlow isn’t reading anything into the current form of tonight’s visitors.

He said: “They have got some quality players and are coming to us in need of a win.

“Like us against Llanelli, they may have suffered from a lack of intensity in recent matches but this is a Gwent derby and they won’t be lacking intensity.”

Warlow says he expects to have a stronger squad at his disposal compared to the weekend, particularly up front.

This meeting at Rodney Parade will be the fourth time the two sides have come up against each other this season.

Boxing Day saw Keys triumph 23-8 at Pandy Park, where only a few weeks earlier they had beaten Newport 33-27 in the Foster’s Challenge Cup.

The reverse fixture in that competition, at Rodney Parade on October 19, was won 17-11 by Warlow’s charges.

The tier two play-off semi-finals will take place on May 13 or 14, with the final on May 20 at the home of one of the sides involved.

That will be decided by a draw when the two finalists are known.