SHANE Howarth is out of the Newport team for Saturday's Welsh League Premier Division game against crisis club Swansea at Rodney Parade.

Howarth, set to return to New Zealand in the summer, injured a knee in training and is having a precautionary scan tomorrow, though the problem is not thought serious.

Jason Strange will occupy the outside half position against a Swansea team reeling from the decision of the club this week to go into temporary administration and slash salaries for the rest of this season.

Newport will choose from three centres because of a flu bug which has affected a few players.

Scrum half David Llewellyn will have another opportunity to resume his career, ironically against the club he last played against three years and four days ago since when he has endured three Achilles' tendon operations. He is on the bench again.

League points are still vital as there could still be nine teams at the top next season.

Team: P Montgomery, M Mostyn, (from) J Jones-Hughes, J Pritchard, H Luscombe; A Cadwallader, J Strange, O Tonu'u, R Snow, P Young, C Anthony, S Raiwalui (captain), I Gough, S Ojomoh, A Powell, J Forster. Replacements: L Nabaro, A N Other, D Llewellyn, A Garvey, D Pattison, M Veater, R Jones. Kick-off 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, Newport's former players are holding a reunion before the game from 12.30pm onwards in the marquee. All are welcome.