NEWPORT are one of only three Welsh teams in the quarter-finals of the Celtic League competition after achieving their first win at Neath for seven years on Saturday night.
They now face a huge test against Leinster, the form team of the Celtic League who have won all seven of their pool matches.
In fact, Newport must face Leinster three times in five weeks, twice in the Heineken Cup on October 26 and November 2 and on December 1 in the Celtic League quarter-finals.
Leinster have demolished almost all opposition, trouncing Ebbw Vale 55-13, Bridgend away 51-32, Pontypridd 52-14 and Swansea away 34-18.
And for most of those games they have been without British Lions star centre Brian O'Driscoll.
Newport's victory over Neath was a double whammy for it put them through to the last eight at the expense of biggest rivals Cardiff.
Originally, after their outstanding win at Neath Newport thought they would be travelling to Ulster.
But then Caerphilly upset the applecart yesterday when they went down by the margin of 62-0 in Connacht.
That put them into the quarter-finals with a home draw against Glasgow, consigned Neath to an away draw instead of a home tie and meant Newport travelling to Dublin to meet Leinster.
Neath and Llanelli are the other Welsh teams in the quarter-finals, Neath having to travel to Ulster and Llanelli travelling to powerful Munster.
"It is a bonus to be in the quarter-finals after the Connacht game," said Newport outside half Shane Howarth, who kicked 14 points against Neath.
"It's a one-off game and anything can happen. We could have beaten Munster, so we're pretty confident."
Celtic League quarter-final draw: Leinster v Newport; Ulster v Neath; Connacht v Glasgow; Munster v Llanelli.
- Newport lock Ian Gough looks like missing Newport's first two Heineken Cup game at Newcastle and against Toulouse at home because of his damaged shoulder.
But the Wales star is confident he'll be fit in time for the Heineken Cup double against Leinster.
Neath and Wales wing Shane Williams faces another long spell on the sidelines after re-opening the wound to his injured arm and injuring his hip against Newport.
Our picture shows Emyr Lewis as he went over the line for Newport against Neath. See Victory against all odds for full match report
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