Newport County are kings of the road - and Peter Nicholas hopes his away-day heroes can break their Hednesford Town hoodoo tomorrow.

The Exiles are seeking their fifth successive Dr Martens League victory on their travels - but the Welshmen have not got one point to show from four previous visits to Hednesford.

But the odds are stacked against Nicholas and his merry men as the Staffordshire club are among the surprise packages of this season and have only been beaten once at Keys Park this season, by Stafford Rangers on August 25.

The Pitmen, managed by ex-Newport County director Barry Powell, are tucked just behind the Premier Division's leaders in fourth, four points behind current top-dogs Weymouth.

County, though, have enjoyed a dramatic upturn in fortunes of late and have rocketed up into the top ten from the foot of the division thanks to just one defeat in nine league games.

"I'm not particularly worried about records," said Nicholas.

"But I need our good run to continue. I have watched Hednesford once or twice and they are a very good and strong team.

"We will have to work extremely hard to achieve a draw at Hednesford, let alone get a win.

"I am demanding a good performance tomorrow as we cannot let our high standards slip."

Transfer-listed County striker Neil Davis will line-up tomorrow against one of the teams apparently interested in signing him.

Davis is based in the Midlands and is keen to play nearer to his home. And County privately demand better value-for-money than the £550-a-week scorer of just six league goals this season.

Nicholas has a handful of strikers on his wish-list but last night insisted Chippenham pair Martin Paul and Charlie Griffin, Merthyr hitman Cortez Belle and Mangotsfield United frontman David Seal are not on that wanted-list.

"They are not ones I'm looking at," admitted Nicholas.

"I've got my eye on a few strikers at our level but I have not got one player that I'm eagerly chasing."

Nicholas, meanwhile, has a gaggle of walking wounded that will make the trip to Hednesford tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Duncan Roberts, centre-back Scott Morgan and midfield pair Andrew Mumford and Nathan Davies are all carrying injuries - but are all expected to pass late fitness-tests.

Roberts has a badly bruised foot while fellow new boy Morgan is still suffering the knee problem he picked up against Worcester almost three weeks ago.

Mumford and Davies - County's hardworking engine room - are both suffering knee complaints but will play through the pain barrier at Keys Park.

Skipper and left-back Gary Lloyd serves the final game of his three-match ban but Nicholas is boosted by centre-back Jeff Eckhardt's return from suspension.

* Newport County will host Premier Division rivals Chippenham Town in the Dr Martens League Cup third round on Wednesday, December 10.

Newport County (from) D Roberts, S Williams, T Evans, J Eckhardt, A Thomas, A Mumford, N Davies, R Plant, G Phillips, N Davis, J Phillips, A Stevenson, S O'Sullivan, S Morgan, G Wesson, L Stone, G Jones.

* Glamorgan Cricket Club play Warwickshire Cricket club in football on Sunday (2pm) at Spytty Park. Matthew Maynard, Mike Powell and Mark Wallace will be among the Glamorgan players while Nick Knight and Keith Piper will line-up for Warwickshire. Entrance fee is by programme and will cost 50p.