NEWPORT coach Leigh Jones aims to wipe out the most painful memory of his career in Toulouse tomorrow.

He has been to the French city once before, in September 1998, when he was Ebbw Vale coach, and the outcome was a devastating 108-16 drubbing.

He is determined the Newport team will make a better fist of it on his return.

"I've not got the fondest memories of Toulouse, but you don't harbour memories like that," said Jones.

"It's places like Toulouse where you learn something about yourself with harsh but bitter lessons.

"Fortunately on this occasion, we are taking a quality group of players and travelling very positively even though we've got a number of injuries."

Jones believes Newport can capitalise on Toulouse underestimating them, having won comfortably at Rodney Parade 34-19 in October and overwhelming favourites for the return.

"We'll be delighted if Toulouse take us lightly because we're more than capable of producing a performance and a shock result," said Jones.

"We've talked about it this week and we know we have to start well.

"Toulouse is an intimidating place to go. It's an intimidating ground with vociferous supporters, so the first 20 minutes will be vital. We can't afford to stand off and we've got to take the game to them."

Jones says Newport take considerable encouragement from the first-half of their last game against Cardiff on New Year's Day.

"That was by far the best rugby we have played all year," he said.

"Now we have to take it forward against a quality side. We managed to get momentum against Cardiff. It's about continuing that.

"Then we can go into home games against Edinburgh and Pontypridd very positively. "We've been going in the right direction for the past few weeks, now it's about measuring ourselves against one of the best sides in Europe."

Toulouse are not taking any chances and have chosen a side packed with 13 internationals. Only scrum half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and lock Gregory Lamboley have not earned full caps.

They will be at their most dangerous down the wings through vastly experienced Emile Ntamack and new star Vincent Clerc.

Toulouse: C Poitrenaud, E Ntamack, Y Jauzion, X Garbajosa, V Clerc, Y Delaigue, J-P Elissalde, C Soulette, Y Bru, J-B Poux, G Lamboley, F Pelous (captain), J Bouilhou, C Labit, T Brennan. Replacements: N Jeanjean, C Desbrosse, F Michalak, B Lecouls, W Servat, L Campourcy or R Millochlusky, F Maka. Kick off 2pm (GMT).