CWMBRAN Town look to bounce back from their opening FAW Premier Cup defeat by Carmarthen with victory over Rhyl at Port Talbot tonight(7.30pm).

Left back Neil Smothers is added to the squad, a family bereavement keeping him out last Friday, while hamstring injury victim Sean Wharon is 50-50 for the game.

It is vital Cwmbran win if they are to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals from their four-man group, which also includes Newport County. But coach Roger Gibbins is confident they can do so.

"It is very important we kick-off our Premier Cup campaign with three points tonight," he said.

"We know we are capable of beating all three sides, but it is likely to be a close group, so it is important we bounce back after Friday.

"We were very disappointed to lose that game. We didn't play badly and deserved something out of the game.

"Carmarthen were a good side who had alrteady defeated Rhyl with a very strong defensive unit.

"But we were unlucky. We hit the bar a couple of times, missed a few chances and gave them a soft goal. Itvwas one of those days.

"Rhyl are a bit of an up and down side. They are in an area where they can call on a lot of good players.

"Lee Trundle was one of their stars last season and he has done well at Wrexham. "They have had a good start to the season without setting the world alight and are sure to givve us a good fight."

Cwmbran (from) G Wager, P O'Hagan, C Watkins, J Welsh, S Mainwaring, R Carter, R David, R Shugar, A Moore, C Hughes, R Griffiths, L Brown, N Cotterell, P James, D Philpott, M Pattimore, N Smothers, S Wharton.

*PICTURED: Cwmbran coach Roger Gibbins (left).