IT'S A long way from Hong Kong to Maesteg but there's no doubt where Newport head coach David Rees' heart and mind will be around 2.30pm on Saturday.

Rees is in the former British colony overseeing the Wales squad's Hong Kong Sevens challenge, but his thoughts on Saturday will turn to Maesteg as his side bid to reach the Konica-Minolta Cup semi-finals.

Rees' reign at Rodney Parade finishes at the end of this season and he dearly wants to end with a cup final success, something which has eluded him as player and coach, though he has reached previous semi-finals as both.

"He'll be first on the phone straight after the game," said Newport forwards and assistant coach Sven Cronk, who understands what it's like to appear in a Millennium Stadium final, having been part of the Pontypridd squad that beat Llanelli in 2002.

"I was fortunate to win the old cup and it's a great day, not just for the players but for families and supporters," he said.

"I think I'd been in about five semi-finals before that and thought it was going to be a case of forever the bridesmaid.

"It maybe has lost a bit of an edge in that you don't get the crowds now, but to play in and win a Welsh Cup final is still massive.

"The Newport boys are certainly focused for it. They want to get into the final and experience a big day. "We let the league slip away with three or four poor performances and results and refocused on the cup a few weeks back."

Cronk, who still gets as nervous before a game now as he did as a player, anticipates a tough quarter-final challenge in heavy conditions from Maesteg, whom Newport defeated 23-14 at home in the Welsh Premier Division back in October.

"On their own patch they are going to be a difficult proposition. It will certainly be a tough game up front," he said.

"They drive the lineout well and attack well around the fringes, close quarters stuff, and their outside half is not a bad player either and we'll have to keep an eye on him.

"The anticipated conditions are not really a concern. I think our pack is as strong as any in the division to be honest, if not stronger than most.

"And last Saturday's game (the 30-14 win over Cardiff at Rodney Parade) was a great dress rehearsal in as much as conditions are going to be similar, if not a little bit worse.

"The game we are going to have to take to Maesteg will be a mirror image really."

Newport have shown vast improvement in recent months and there's no doubt a cup final appearance is on the players' minds, as the quicker than expected return from injury of vice-captain Matthew Veater and the inclusion in the squad of Aled Thomas at full back and Andrew Brown at hooker emphasises.

"We've noticed a difference in the players since the Neath game (on January 28). I think the season turned a bit there and there's been a steady build since," added Cronk.

"We should have won and the players began to realise they could compete.

"There's certainly a lot of confidence in the camp and a good feeling there at the moment."

Team: A Thomas, R Shorney, J Rowles, R Payne, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths, M Thomas, D Pattison, A Brown, G Robinson, M Workman, M Veater, S Waldron, P Williams, R Jones. Replacements: I Evans, R James, P Osbourne, N Watkins, R Dale, R Crothers, J Taylor. Kick-off 2.30pm.