Byron's warning

The two sides meet at Rodney Parade tonight and having lost at Eugene Cross Park in November.

But Rees is confident that is his side can repeat their performances of late then they can continue their run of five league games unbeaten.

He said: "Gwent derby's are always intense games and tonight will be no different.

"But as a coach these are the games you look forward to being involved in. They provide a good challenge and at Newport there is a lot of pride when it comes to winning derby games especially at Rodney Parade.

"As a player these games push you to the limit mentally and physically and everyone is looking forward to it."

Rees' side are currently on an unbeaten run of games and the former Cross Keys coach has singled out his side's self-belief as a key area of their development.

He said: "I said earlier in the season when we were losing a couple of games that we didn't have enough self-belief and that was true.

"I also said that self-belief wouldn't come overnight because we are a relatively new side. "But slowly we have started to get there and now when we go into game trailing at half-time I know that this side has enough character to win games."

Newport are currently second in the Welsh Premier Division and and Rees is keen that his side can keep up the pressure on Neath.

"It's not over and our aim is to keep putting the pressure on them and hope they slip up." Newport captain Matthew Veater is a doubt for Newport tonight and will have a late fitness test.

Newport: J Rowles, G Chapman, R Shorney, R Payne, S Ireland, D Griffiths, G Hall, D Pattison, A Bevan, G Robinson, D Davies, M Veater, N Kelly, P Williams, R Jones. Replacements: I Evans, G Mason, M Popham, S Waldron, A Walker(Watkins), W Kershaw-Naylor, AN Other.

Ebbw Vale player-coach Byron Hayward is still worried that his side could slip into a relegation battle following Caerphilly's recent resurgence.

He said: "We have started to slip back into a relegation battle and we only have ourselves to blame.

"We watched the video of our victory against Newport and asked what has changed and that has got be attitude.

"Fair enough we have lost one player (Ben Coutts to Sale) and he was a big player for us but one player doesn't make a team.

"So we have told our players to improve our attitude otherwise we'll start to slip back into trouble."

The Steelmen have problems at hooker and have borrowed Lee Murray from Blackwood, while wing Scott Horner returns to the side.

Ebbw Vale: A McLoughlin, S Horner, K Owen, J Hawker, A Bevan, B Hayward, S Ellington, L Murray, Lee Davies, G Jones, R Bowen, C Clever, M Scudamore, M Griffin. Replacements: R Jones, J Williams , M Tuipulotu, D Alexander, T Matthews, G Burns, R Aylett.

Bedwas are another side who looking nervously over their shoulders.

Their current form is not great and are only nine points above third from bottom Caerphilly.

They travel to fifth placed Cross Keys who themselves lost to Newport at the weekend.

Assistant coach Steve Law said: "Caerphilly are suddenly starting to win games and we can't rest on our laurels otherwise we'll be in trouble.

"Cross Keys is a difficult place to go at any time but considering our injury situation it is a very tough proposition."

Bedwas will not name a team until just before kick-off due to several injuries to key players.

Daniel Jones, Huw Lock and Derri Mattravers all doubtful miss out but club captain Nathan Jones returns after a three months absence as does Simon Jones who has recovered from his rib injury.

Bedwas: N Gittins, S Sankala, G Miles, A Harrison, M Pizey, T Price, S Jones, J Tilley, P McGhee, J Salter, R Edwards, A Evans, P Wheeler, C Hill, B Cole. Replacements: K Jama, M Pettit, N Jones, J Steele, M Lewis, R Phillips, A James. Kick-off 7.15pm.

Meanwhile, Cross Keys still hit by injuries, hope to borrow a back row player on permit at home to Bedwas tonight.

Keys: G Worgan, M McKee, N Williams, R Williams, D Price, O Biddescombe, G Betts, J Price, G Price, D Evans, D Hudd, G Wilson, B Watkins, D Tovey, W Thomas. Replacements: D Miles, D Dark, S Mitchell, AN Other, I George, C Gould, M Curtis.

Newbridge, however, look dead and buried at the foot of the table. Their defeat on Saturday to fellow relegation strugglers Llandovery leaves them 15 points from safety.

They have borrowed Sione Tuipulotu (pictured) from the Newport Gwent Dragons and he will start at full-back in tonight's game against Carmarthen Quins.

Damien Cooper said: "Saturday was a big defeat for us.

"It's not looking good though but we have a big game tonight and a few home games to come and if we can win those then you never know."

Newbridge: S Tuipulotu, M Addis, P Jones, G Bowen, R Hallett, R Watts, M Taylor, R Davies, D Williams, P Taylor, W Sims, P Watkins, J Powell, S Coles, N Cole. Replacements: C Fitzpatrtick, A Oliver, S Greedy, T Lampard, C Miller, G Ferguson.