TIM Harris insists tonight's Dr Martens Cup showdown with Clevedon Town (7.45pm) is a "great opportunity" for his Newport County players to regain some much-needed confidence.

The season is only two months old and County have had a rollercoaster start - winning the first three, losing the next five, staying undefeated in their next seven before being knocked out of the FA Cup by lower-league Team Bath.

Dr Martens Premier League County boss Harris admits the Dr Martens Cup, where prize-money is only dished from the Third Round onwards and the eventual winners net £1,500, is "not a priority."

But, he quickly added, tonight's Round One clash with Dr Martens Western League Clevedon, who have never won on seven visits to Newport's ground, will be used as a "confidence builder".

"With what we have gone through in the last few weeks we need to build our confidence," said Harris.

"We need to show the same character and determination as we did against Dover Athletic (a league game where County lost 1-0) and TNS (County won 1-0 in the FAW Premier Cup).

"The players need to keep momentum going. I want to see a good performance, bags of desire and our confidence returning."

Clevedon are 23 pyramid places below County but that won't necessarily make it easy for County, as Team Bath proved to Newport's disappointment in an FA Cup third qualifying round game two weeks ago.

Defender Steve Benton continues his progression after two knee operations and will play, it'll be his second game back after run-outs against Newport YMCA in the Gwent Senior Cup and TNS last Monday in the FAW Premier Cup.

Transfer-listed midfielder Steve Cowe, who has been struggling with knee and foot knocks, is likely to be available and young defender Lee Stanton has shrugged off a hamstring strain.

Newport County (from) P Mountain, A Thomas, B Clark, J Eckhardt, S Benton, D D'Auria, M Rose (c), N Davies, M Fowler, A Stevenson, S Cowe, S Walker, G Shephard, N Davis, R French, J Dupres, L Stanton, T Hart