SOUTH African star Percy Montgomery is ready to play a leading role for Newport on a regular basis at last.

Starting with Saturday's Welsh League clash against Pontypridd at Rodney Parade Montgomery will be able to play in every one of Newport's remaining games this season, injuries permitting of course.

The former Springbok full back, with 50 caps to his name, has been limited to just three outings for Newport since his arrival at the end of October.

He has been forced to endure large parts of his three months in Wales as a frustrated spectator unable to influence events on the field for his new club.

Initially it was the autumn internationals with no league fixtures in Wales that kept him idle.

Then it was two spells of Heineken Cup rugby for which he was not eligible because of his arrival through no fault of his own after the registration date had elapsed.

But all that is about to end. There is no more Heineken Cup rugby for Newport, and other than during the newly condensed Six Nations Montgomery will be a regular in the Newport side from now on in the league and Principality Cup.

After playing against Bridgend, Llanelli and Cardiff, looking every inch the international ace he is, Montgomery is restored at full back against Pontypridd.

Shane Howarth moves from his international position of full back to his now more favoured outside half slot.

That means Jason Strange has been left out after playing in the last 12 games, starting 11 of them, and scoring 22 points against Edinburgh last Saturday.

"Percy hasn't played for a while, and we'll look at the next three or four weeks and pick appropriately," said Newport coach Leigh Jones.

It remains to be seen whether Howarth or Montgomery takes over the place-kicking role. The only other change from the side which rounded off their Heineken Cup programme by beating Edinburgh, is at blindside flanker where Steve Ojomoh returns after recovering from a hamstring injury.

But Newport are still without centres Andy Marinos and Jason Jones-Hughes, Marinos sidelined for up to 10 weeks with damaged foot ligaments and Jones-Hughes this week having an injection in a troublesome hamstring injury.

Jonathan Pritchard and Hal Luscombe remain the Newport centres against Pontypridd. Pontypridd are without injured midfield trio Neil Jenkins, John Bryant and Sonny Parker, though they have signed Llanelli and Wales centre Neil Boobyer on loan.

n Newport team: P Montgomery, M Mostyn, H Luscombe, J Pritchard, L Nabaro, S Howarth, O Tonu'u, R Snow, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui (captain), M Voyle, S Ojomoh, A Powell, J Forster. Replacements: A Cadwallader, J Strange, D Burn, C Anthony, P Young, I Gough, R Jones. Kick off 2.30pm. Pontypridd are yet to name their team