NEWPORT coach David Rees is confident his 'completely drained' side will lift themselves once more to continue their winning run at Llanelli on Saturday.

Rees was still adamant today that the current Welsh Premier Division fixture schedule is all wrong and detrimental to the development of young players with sights on regional rugby.

"Our players are on their knees and it's only five weeks into the season. They are only part-timers yet they are being asked to play three games in a week on a regular basis and that's a schedule full time professionals aren't asked to undertake," he said.

"And most of these midweek games are derbies and huge, physical confrontations.

"How are you supposed to develop young under-19 or under-21 internationals into regional players if you have no time for skill development during the week?

"The Welsh Rugby Union need to consult more with the coaches and with their technical officers before putting the fixture lists together because they are getting it wrong."

Rees admitted it was tougher for Newport because they are the defending Premier champions and the one team all others in the league and in Gwent in particular want to beat.

"You have to accept that. It's something you have to live with," he said.

But he added: "The players are being very professional. I cancelled Thursday's training session to give them a rest and I'm sure they'll dig deep against Llanelli.

"It will be a totally different type of game from the one at Newbridge on Wednesday, more expansive and not so physical, though probably just as tiring.

"We won all the set piece ball against Newbridge and we have to do that again on Saturday but we also have to retain the ball beyond ruck two and achieve better continuity."

Because of players suffering from tonsillitis and injuries, Rees judiciously rested a couple at Newbridge. "We took a few risks and got away with it," he said, "but it means we'll have a few fresh legs at Llanelli."

Scrum half James Ireland returns to the side along with skipper Matthew Veater, recovered from a leg injury, and hooker Keiran Crawford.

It was thought a hip injury might rule out outside half Daniel Griffiths, but he has declared himself fit to face his home town club though a broken thumb means a rest for flanker Paul Williams, scorer of a hat-trick of tries against Bridgend last Saturday.

Llanelli include Scarlets development player Scott Quinnell but will be without hooker Craig Hopkins, prop Phil John and lock Bryn Griffiths, all with the Scarlets in Munster.

Newport: R Williams, C Thomas, R Shorney, R Payne, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths, J Ireland, I Evans, K Crawford, G Robinson, M Veater, N Edwards, N Kelly, M Popham, R Jones. Replacements: D Pattison, G Mason, D Davies, S Waldron, T Walsh, G Chapman, A McLaughlan.