NEWPORT winger Ben Breeze admits tonight's Welsh/Scottish League showdown (7.05pm) with arch-rivals Cardiff is a 'real six-pointer.'

Breeze (pictured) is one of only five survivors from the last Newport side to beat Cardiff two years ago, only the second success in the last ten games between the near neighbours.

The other survivors are Shane Howarth, Rod Snow, Simon Raiwalui and Jason Forster. "It's a real six-pointer tonight and we owe them," admitted Breeze, referring to previous defeats in the league and cup at the hands of Cardiff this season, plus the fact the losers at Rodney Parade tonight will be out of the title race.

"We could lay one of our competitors to rest and then move on to the next," said Breeze. "The other three games are against non-contenders, so the ball is in our court."

Breeze urges Newport not to get over-involved in the age-old rivalry between the teams. "Every time we play them we get wrapped up in this Cardiff-Newport thing, our biggest hang-up is we worry about the fact that it's Cardiff," he said.

"It means so much that if we play a dreadful game and win 3-0 everyone is ecstatic, but if we play out of our skins and lose 43-41 it's a disaster.

"We had a stinker against Swansea but we probably had it coming." Now Breeze says it is up to Newport to rise to the challenge and fight back - and he senses the attitude is just right.

"When things are going well anyone can look good," said Breeze. "But what it's like now we can begin to sort out the men from the boys.

"I love it when the chips are down. It's when the professional rugby bit becomes interesting and you either fold or rise above it.

"It's backs to the wall time and that's when you sort out the good players." Breeze puts the recent losses down to a lack of focus.

"We've somehow lost our focus and had two massive kicks up the backside," he said. "We need to grab the bull by the horns and if we can get to the form we showed against Newcastle, Leinster and Pontypridd we will give anyone in the country a game.

"When we forget about the way we can play and think we're championship contenders we lose focus.

"We've worked so hard to get where we are it would be a shame if nothing comes out of it."

Breeze urges Newport to go for it tonight, saying: "We will feel it as soon as we run out because the crowd feel it.

"But if we play good, fast rugby Cardiff could fold. We've got to have the bravery to do it." Outside half Shane Howarth is expected to play after damaging ribs against Neath and missing the Swansea game. He has been training this week and his early return will give Newport a boost.