NEWPORT are waiting for the result of fitness tests on Wales prop Chris Anthony and centre Jonathan Pritchard before finalising their side to take on Cardiff in the Principality Cup quarter-final at the Arms Park on Friday night.

Anthony injured a calf muscle playing for Wales against England last Saturday and has been bracketed with Adrian Garvey at tight head prop in the Newport team.

Pritchard returned in the friendly against Blackwood last week after being out for two months with a damaged hamstring, but Newport are still not 100% sure of his fitness. If he is fully fit he will partner Matthew Watkins in the centre, but if he's out Wales under-21 regular Hal Luscombe will deputise.

Wales centre Andy Marinos could not be considered because of his broken finger. His hand is in plaster which is due to come off on Friday and he hasn't ruled himself out of Wales' final Six Nations game against Scotland.

Lock Ian Gough has recovered from the muscle injury which ruled him out of the England match and number eight Andrew Powell has been cleared to play after fears he had further damaged his hand played for Wales Under-21s against England.

Lock Mike Voyle, back from New Zealand where his wife gave birth to their second child, expects to be given the all-clear this week after suffering a prolapsed disc in his neck and could be on the bench.

Newport could hardly have a tougher quarter-final in their defence of the cup trophy. Cardiff is a hoodoo ground for them. The last time they won there was back in 1995. Then they did it twice, 22-18 and 24-20.

They have won just three of the last 13 games between the oldest rivals in Welsh rugby. Newport team: M Pini, M Mostyn, M Watkins/ H Luscombe, J Pritchard, B Breeze/ M Watkins, S Howarth, O Tonu'u, R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony/A Garvey, S Raiwalui (captain), I Gough, P Buxton, A Powell, J Forster. Replacements (from) A Garvey, C Anthony, C Jones, P Young, J Powell, M Voyle, A Popham, H Luscombe, B Breeze, J Strange, D Burn. Kick-off 7.05pm.

Newport have sold over 3,000 tickets for the game compared with 4,000 so far sold by Cardiff.

People wishing to purchase tickets must now obtain them through the ticket hotline (029) 20 302030, but plenty should be available on the night from the ticket office on Westgate Street.