NEWPORT have hit a slump at the wrong time and they face Glasgow at Hughenden tonight without a number of leading players due to injury.

It doesn't look the best way to halt their slide down the Welsh/Scottish League table which has seen them drop from top to fourth in a fortnight.

It has even put their place in next season's Heineken Cup in slight doubt, but for all their problems on the injury and form front, skipper Simon Raiwalui insists Newport can turn it round.

And he is sure the team can get back on the road in Scotland tonight. "Last year we went up there with a young squad on we only just lost (28-20). We've got to have the same attitude as we had then," he said.

"Neath and Cardiff have won up there recently so it can be done, we've just got to get stuck in.

"The Neath-Swansea week (Newport lost to both in four days) was very disappointing and we didn't perform.

"But we were back to playing some good rugby against Cardiff.

"Even though we lost we gave it 100%, but we didn't have the bounce of the ball and a few decisions went against us, like not being awarded two tries and when Hal Luscombe got to the ball ahead of Anthony Sullivan when they were given a try.

"But we can't look back, we've simply got to turn it around. We've had a bad month, we were playing good rugby, then came those injuries, but we're going to come back stronger.

"This is when the true strength of the squad comes out." Raiwalui does not intend letting Heineken Cup qualification go right down to the wire, needing one win to make sure, when they were in a position to go in as top seeds. "We want to win our last three games, we're playing to make it three out of three not just one win from the last three," he said.

"If you start to pick games out you put yourself in a precarious position." He doesn't feel under any more pressure because of Newport's dip in form. "It's a challenge and I'm still enjoying it," he responded. "You've got to take the knocks with the glory and it's a challenge to get it going again.

"I don't feel any more pressure, I hate losing and I'm naturally competitive. "And we owe it to the fans, we never want to let them down."

Glasgow have been left reeling after coach Richie Dixon quit the club last night. Dixon has left the Scottish side to take up the post of head of development at Murryfield.

*PICTURED: Newport skipper Simon Raiwalui.