NEWPORT wing Matt Mostyn (pictured) crosses the Irish Sea again still hoping to earn a recall to the Ireland squad, writes Robin Davey.

Mostyn was born in Australia, but qualified for Ireland through his grandparents and earned five caps.

There will be no better place to stake his claim than Donnybrook tonight against Leinster in the Celtic League quarter-final.

Ireland coach Warren Gatland is likely to be present, as he was for the first game between the sides in the Heineken Cup five weeks ago. Mostyn says Newport are due a victory.

"We deserve one. I've never seen the boys so shattered after the last defeat," he said. "There was that ridiculous try when he (Peter McKenna - who can't make the 22 tonight) got away before anyone realised, then Jonny Pritchard was pulled back by the referee when it would have been game over.

"But things come around. They're undefeated, I know, but very few teams hold it for long. It's time it came under the hammer.

"They've got a lot of confidence and they win the close games which is always the sign of a good team.

"But we were the better team here and with a bit of luck we'll win even if it's close again. "This is a great opportunity to right a few wrongs."

Matthew Watkins will be on the bench rather than alongside Mostyn because he can't make the starting line-up, though he has for Wales A against Argentina, Tonga and Uruguay this month.

Watkins had been playing more on the wing for Newport. He said pointedly, "It was nice to play at 13 for the A team, hopefully the Welsh set-up will see me at centre more often.

"If you look at the Leinster back line they are all internationals, they're very good and they defend well.

"But if we manage to build the phases up the gaps will come."