NEWPORT'S record points scorer Shane Howarth is involved in a dramatic race against time to be fit for the Principality Cup final next month.

Howarth damaged the joint of his right shoulder against Swansea on Saturday and was in considerable pain as he was led from the field early in the second half.

He had his arm in a sling after the game and visits hospital today for an X-ray examination.

There are real fears he could be sidelined for a month which would rule him out of the cup final against Neath at the Millennium Stadium on May 13, less than three weeks away. "It's touch and go," admitted Newport director of rugby Allan Lewis, though insisting there could be no firm indication until after today's hospital tests.

Howarth is the only player in Newport's history to top 400 points in a season and has missed just one of the 29 games this season, but admits it will be tight.

"It's very painful," he said. "I can't say about the final yet. I want it to be two weeks, we'll just have to wait and see. "It's only the third time in my career I've come off the field. It went a bit against Glasgow and I did it in the first half again, then I got hit in a tackle.

"The initial assessment is that it'll be two to four weeks. I'll take two."

The injury problems are not confined to Howarth because centres Jason Jones-Hughes and Andy Marinos, plus full back Matt Pini were all injured at Swansea.

Jones-Hughes and Marinos both suffered knee injuries, Jones-Hughes, who had replaced Pini, forced off near the end. Howarth definitely misses Saturday's must-win game against Caerphilly, meaning a first league start of the season for Scott Mitchell, while Jones-Hughes and Marinos are both doubtful.

But Pini, who suffered a nose injury and blurred vision after a high tackle, should be fit.

Prop Adrian Garvey (calf) and scrum half Darren Edwards (shin) also missed the Swansea game and are having treatment.

Newport have now slipped to fifth in the Welsh/Scottish League table behind Llanelli and Bridgend on try count.

They must beat Caerphilly and Cross Keys in their last game on May 5 to make sure of qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup.

In between they travel to Glasgow, on May 1, but all their leading players are likely to stand down with the cup final in mind as well.

If, however, they lose to Caerphilly they may all have to go to Scotland.