FORMER Wasps captain Chris Neath makes a welcome return to Hayley Stadium as he bids to help Newport suppress the Somerset Rebels (2.30pm).

Neath, who rides for Swindon Robins this season, has been signed as a guest rider to cover for Ben Howe who is still out injured with a badly gashed knee.

A former junior test star, Neath was a Wasp in 2001 and will bolster a strong Newport side, but Somerset will be no mugs on Sunday.

The rebels have assembled an exciting team capable of putting on a great show for the fans with Czech Republic showman Mario Jirout leading the way along with ex-Wasp Glenn Cunningham and in-form veteran Neil Collins.

Newport promoter Tim Stone was pleased to have signed up Neath and said: "It didn't take much to sign Chris up.

"He was back here with Swindon recently and he likes riding this track, but this will be a tough test.

"Somerset'll want to do well here, they have performed well here at Conference League level and I'm sure it won't be any different now they're in the Premier League.

"They include a former Newport rider in Glenn Cunningham and I'm looking forward to seeing him back here, not a problem, it should be a really entertaining day again.

"Hopefully we won't have the gremlins this time and everything will go smoothly for us unlike last Sunday against Trelawny.

"Barrie Evans and Lee Dicken have been suffering and hopefully they'll be fully recovered."

Stone was delighted to see his side keep their unbeaten home record with a hard fought 46-44 win over Trelawny last weekend.

Newport have signed up Trelawny's Seemond Stephens for their match against Exeter, his former club, on Monday.

Newport: Craig Watson, Frank Smart, Guest for Ben Howe, Scott Smith, Lee Dicken, Barrie Evans, Carl Wilkinson.

Somerset: Mario Jirout, Neil Collins, Glenn Cunningham, David Meldrum, Steve Bishop, Gary Phelps, Malcolm Holloway.

* Newport Mavericks' Tom Brown is back in action this weekend after be involved in a bad smash during Newport Mavericks' 55-35 defeat to King's Lynn on Wednesday night. Brown, 17, collided with teammate Danny Hughes.

* In the picture: Wasps old boy Glenn Cunningham is in saddle for Somerset Rebels