BLACKWOOD backs coach Nigel Way is confident his side can win at Llanharan tomorrow and save themselves from Welsh First Division relegation.

A win or draw (or the unlikely scenario of scoring five tries in defeat) will keep them up and doom Abertillery to the drop.

And though a continuing run of injuries threatens their chances, Way remains positive going into the game.

"We can't seem to get away from injury problems. We've had them all season," he said.

"The latest is wing Gavin Rees, who required 15 external stitches and five internal after being badly hurt when tackled against Treorchy last week.

"It sums up our season. We've never been able to maintain any continuity and tomorrow we're down to a bare set of backs.

"But the boys are aware of what's required, are upbeat and positive, and we haven't had a bad run of late, losing only one game in our last four.

"We've made the situation hard for ourselves but have the calibre of players to do the job."

And he said the only strategy his side can adopt is to go for the win, not the tries, adding: "It would be disastrous for the club if we went down."

Way, a former Abertillery player and coach, paid tribute to his former side.

"They looked certain to go down a couple of months ago, but have won seven and drawn one of their final ten games and that's a superb record.

"You have to take your hats off to them. To have come from where they were to where they are now has been a tremendous performance."

Because of Rees' injury, Blackwood call up Matthew Vaughan while because of his experience at international and Premier level, Roger Bidgood is preferred at centre to Shane Webley.

Flanker Jason Powell will have a late fitness tes on a knee strain.

Blackwood: R Potter, D Starr, R Bidgood, L Davies, M Vaughan, M Jones, W Bray, J Price, A Peacock, P Harriman, M Veater, W Sims, J Powell/D Tomsa, J Sims, M Ackerman. Replacements: A Boyd, S Webley, C Lay, Ian Jones, D Hughes, Ian Jones, AN Other. Kick-off 2.30pm.