DON'T cast us in the role of favourites for Sunday's Millennium Stadium Principality Cup final, insists Newport director of rugby Allan Lewis.

As the kidology steps up for the showdown against Neath, Lewis doesn't want the tag of favourites put on them because of the team's big names.

"In the last month we have struggled to find our form and we have not created enough chances to score tries," said Lewis at a press conference for both teams at the stadium yesterday.

"Neath play the type of game that can create havoc and they beat us there with 14 men. "So how we can be favourites I don't know."

Lewis is urging his team to be positive and attack in the club's first appearance in the cup final for 15 years.

He is expecting a typically physical challenge from Neath, but believes the team creating most chances will win.

"In order to win we've got to look at our own performance," he said. "We need to improve it and the ways of scoring tries, and not be too concerned with the result.

"When you come to this stage and there is something to be won it does get physical, that's the minimum requirement.

"But the side that creates chances will win. Against Bath, Caerphilly away, Bridgend and Munster in the first half we showed we are capable of doing very well.

"We have got to attack and be positive." Skipper Gary Teichmann is sure Newport will have learnt from their defeat against 14-man Neath in December.

"They took it to us and they beat us with 14. If we haven't learnt from that we never will," he said. "But we just want to go out and play and we hope to keep the best 'til last and play 80 minutes of good rugby.

"We haven't put it together week in, week out, but the ability and the talent is there."

Newport team manager Jim McCreedy, the one link with the past, is pleased the club is featuring in a cup final again.

"There has been a change in fortunes in the last three years," he said.

"I'm delighted we have qualified for the European Cup and now in a cup final to be in a position to put some silverware back on the table.

"Newport is a big club which dropped below its standards, but I'm looking forward to us being back there."

Lewis revealed that centre Jason Jones-Hughes will not make it for the final.

He has been ruled out after damaging knee ligaments against Swansea last month.

A decision on the fitness of outside half and record points scorer Shane Howarth will not be made until Friday.