DAVID REES will be swapping his snow shoes for training shoes tomorrow as he bids to lead his Newport side to another victory over traditional rivals Cardiff at Rodney Parade.

The Black and Ambers' coach was in Aurillac, a mountainous area of south-east France, last night with the Wales Under-21s squad and as he gave me his thoughts on the Welsh derby he was looking out over a sea of snow and ice from his hotel room.

"It's really a surreal sight," he said. "I feel I should be out there ski-ing instead of contemplating a couple of games of rugby but unfortunately the mountains are a little too far way."

As we spoke, the French authorities were busy clearing four or five feet of snow off the Aurillac pitch, but Rees said: "There is ample covering under the snow and they are used to these conditions."

Rees and the Wales Under-21s party were due back in Wales this morning and looking ahead to the Cardiff game, Rees said: "It will be tough.

"Cardiff had a good win over our Konica-Minolta Cup quarter-final opponents Aberavon in midweek and will be boosted by a couple of Cardiff Blues players, including Nicky Robinson.

"They've run into a bit of form (winning seven of their last eight games, two in the cup), just like Pontypridd before they met us, and we are looking for a similar result.

"We too have run into a rich vein of form and we are aiming to keep the pressure on the top teams, to make sure we finish in the top three and hopefully win the cup, so there's still a lot to play for.

"I have been really pleased with our performance levels recently and there is real confidence back in the squad.

"Sunday's game (kick-off 1.15pm) will be our fifth in a row at home and that's nice both for the squad and the supporters who had to put up with so many away games earlier in the season."

Third-placed Newport make only two changes from the Pontypridd game, with loose-head prop Dai Pattison and hooker Andrew Brown replacing Ian Evans and Keiron Crawford respectively.

Either Darren Davies (back injury), Ben Thompson or Neil Edwards (foot injury) will partner Matthew Veater in the second row, depending on who is fit and what part Thompson played for the Under-21s last night.

Newport: J Rowles, G Chapman, R Payne, R Shorney, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths, J Ireland, D Pattison, A Brown, G Robinson, D Davies/B Thompson/N Edwards, M Veater, N Kelly, S Waldron, R Jones. Replacements: I Evans, K Crawford, G Mason, M Popham, P Williams, S Ireland, G Hall.