NEWPORT'S players have set their sights on a Konica-Minolta Cup final appearance at the Millennium Stadium this season - that's how seriously they still take the competition.

Some clubs regard the event as being of less importance in these days of regional rugby with even a cup final place of far less financial value that it used to be.

But Newport coach David Rees insists: "The Konica-Minolta Cup is still a massive competition for us. "Every year, both as a player and coach, to have that carrot of a Millennium Stadium appearance dangling in front of you is huge and it remains a great day out for the players and supporters.

"As far as we are concerned the cup remains as big a competition as the league.

"Yes, the league is our bread and butter, yes, we want to finish at the top if possible and certainly in the top three.

"But the cup is just as important and it was the players who set our their goal at the start of the season to actually win the competition, it wasn't a goal I set them, that's how important it is to them.

"The senior players in the regions have the Heineken Cup but for the semi-professional tier the Konica-Minolta Cup has as high a profile.

"A lot of players won't play at a higher level, so this is their big event."

Newport's opponents tomorrow, Division One side Glamorgan Wanderers, only remain in the competition because Ebbw Vale were thrown out for fielding an ineligible player after beating them 29-5 in round three.

They subsequently won 23-11 away to Carmarthen Athletic, but the view that the game should be a walkover for Newport is not one shared by Rees.

"It's a one-off and they will give us a game," he said. "Abercynon came to Newport and did so and Pontycwmmer raised their game in the last round.

"For teams like Glamorgan Wanderers it's a fairytale and gives them the opportunity of an upset and I noticed they put over 100 points on Brynmawr in the league.

"I'm glad the game is at Rodney Parade but we still have to perform well to win though at least Glamorgan Wanderers are one of those sides who like to play rugby."

Because of injuries to a few players, including locks Neil Edwards (foot) and Darren Davies (hamstring), Newport delay finalising their side.

Newport: J Rowles, G Chapman, R Shorney, R Payne, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths, J Ireland/A Walker/G Hall, D Pattison, A Brown, G Robinson, N Edwards/D Davies/M Veater/B Thompson, N Kelly, S Waldron, R Jones. Replacements: S Cronk, K Crawford, I Evans, S Ireland, M Popham, P Williams, AN Other, AN Other. Kick-off 2.30pm.