BOTH the Cross Keys and Newport coaches and players could be forgiven if they got their wires crossed at Pandy Park on Saturday during a game which should attract a bumper crowd.

First of all there is the fact that David Rees is returning to the ground for his first game there as Newport coach after ten years at the Keys helm.

Then there is the fact that eight of the Newport squad once played at Keys, namely Matthew Veater, Nick Kelly, Darren Davies, Gareth Chapman, Ian Evans, Dan Brown, James Ireland and Tom Walsh.

In addition, Newport pair David Pattison and Marc Popham played on loan for Keys at one time while current Keys squad members Scott Mitchell, Ian George, Ben Watkins and Gary Horrigan were once at Newport.

And just for good measure, current Keys backs coach Nicky Lloyd was once at Newport and current Newport team manager Steve Jones and fitness coach Phil Ramsey were once at Keys.

But despite all that, Rees and Beale are adamant it will make little difference to the way they approach Saturday's game which, they predict, will be open and exciting.

"There is always a strong rivalry between Newport and any valley side," said Beale. "As a player I enjoyed being involved in such games and as a coach it's the same. I'm sure our players are looking forward to renewing acquaintances with their former team-mates, and I don't mean that in any nasty way.

"We obviously want to win the game and I believe that we are capable of beating any side in the division on our own patch.

"I believe it will be an exciting game between two sides who will be trying to play expansive, running rugby."

Beale believes Keys could be going into the game with six wins from six, certainly five from six. "If you don't take your chances you don't deserve to win," he said, "and we didn't do that against Pontypridd. We bounced back to beat Caerphilly, but I don't believe we played to our best because the Pontypridd game wasn't out of our system."

While at Keys last season, Rees masterminded Newport's defeat in the Konica-Minolta Cup and he knows his former side will be up for Saturday's clash.

He said: "It's another Gwent derby and for me it's back to my old club, but I don't think it makes any difference in terms of preparation. For me there will be no more emphasis on winning than for any other game.

"Having said that, we were very disappointed with our performance in losing our first game of the season at Llanelli and we have to put a number of things right as we want to get back on the winning trail.

"We will go out to play rugby and I know that Cross Keys will do the same and I'm sure it will be a very enjoyable occasion with a lot of bante."

Despite an agreement that no regional player should appear in Gwent derbies, Newport include Dragons lock Luke Charteris, Rees explaining: "I have been asked by the Welsh and regional managements to include Luke as he requires game time after a hamstring injury.

"He has been included in the Wales squad for the Autumn internationals but has not yet been able to have a game for the Newport Gwent Dragons and has had only one start for Newport's Premier Division side."

Cross Keys: D Miles, N Williams, G Turner, R Williams, D Price, S Mitchell, G Betts, I George, P Maxwell, C Gould, M Curtis, W Thomas, B Watkins, T Morris, R Williams. Replacements: D Dark, O Biddescombe, T Mahoney, J Price, G Price, D Evans, D Hudd. Kick-off 2.30pm.

Newport: R Williams, G Chapman, S Ireland, R Payne, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths, J Ireland, I Evans, A Brown, S Cronk, D Davies, L Charteris, P Williams, R Jones, N Kelly. Replacements: N Edwards, S Waldron, M Veater, K Crawford, G Mason, T Walsh, A McLaughlan.