NEWPORT give youth a fling for tonight's penultimate Welsh/Scottish League game of the season against Glasgow at Hughendon.
They call up two members of their successful under-21 team, both internationals, to make their senior debuts.
James Rowles, the under-21 captain, plays at full back and Gareth Gravell is at openside flanker. Because they are not members of the senior squad, Newport had to apply for permits to include the pair against the Scots.
They feature in a completely untried side, chosen with one eye on the Principality Cup final next week and the need to rest key players rather than play them three times in a week.
Only four players who started Saturday's match against Caerphilly remain in the side. And of the 10 internationals the club can call on, just one plays - Simon Raiwalui, who will lead the side as a rehearsal for next season when he takes the job over fully.
"We've got three games in a week and then obviously the cup final, so this is an opportunity for players to recharge their batteries and get over a few niggling injuries," said team manager Jim McCreedy.
"The situation has changed with Neath losing last Friday which means we're in Europe next season, and it gives us an opportunity to use other players who can push for places in the cup final.
"It's also a chance to blood two youngsters who've played well for the under-21s. We've got a lot of faith in them and anticipate them being part of the squad next season."
In the back division, Rowles apart, Martyn Llewellyn comes in on the right wing, Jonathan Pritchard at outside centre and Dale Burn at scrum half.
It is up front where the major changes are made, only Raiwalui remaining from Saturday. Ceri Jones, Paul Young and Lee Fortey, making his first league start of the season, form the front row.
Gareth Taylor steps in at lock while the back row trio is Gravell, Alix Popham at number eight and Joe Powell.
In case it goes pear shaped against a Glsgow side seeking to become the second team to do the league double over Newport this season, Rod Snow and Ian Gough are among the replacements.
Neil McKim, another player who hasn't featured this season, is also on the bench, though Emyr Lewis is in Japan with the Wales Sevens squad.
Glasgow are likely to be at full strength, former Scotland captain Andy Nichol returning at scrum half.
Departing Newport captain Gary Teichmann offers fans, dismayed at the recent poor form despite qualifying for Europe, some words of comfort.
"Sometimes things don't go for you, but hopefully you ride it out and the luck comes," he said. "It is not through lack of effort, but sometimes it goes like that. As a team we've got to become wiser and keep it simple."
Newport team v Glasgow: J Rowles, M Llewellyn, M Watkins, J Pritchard, B Breeze, S Mitchell, D Burn, C Jones, P Young, L Fortey, G Taylor, S Raiwalui (captain), J Powell, A Popham, G Gravell. Replacements: N McKim, A Marinos, D Edwards, R Snow, J Richards, I Gough, P Buxton. Kick off 7pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article