NEWPORT County AFC are effectively playing knockout football already in the EFL Trophy with the winners of Tuesday's fixture at Reading qualifying from the group stages.

The Exiles travel to what is now called the Select Car Leasing Stadium in Berkshire next week in the final fixture in Southern Group H (kick-off 7pm).

The prize for the winners is an away tie in the regionalised round of 32 on December 10 after Cheltenham secured top spot, and a home tie, with a 1-0 win over a young Royals side on Tuesday.

Both County and Reading beat West Ham Under-21s to be locked on three points, and goal difference won't come into it.

If the sides cannot be separated on the night then, as is the case with all drawn fixtures in the EFL Trophy, there will be a penalty shootout.

The EFL Trophy might be mocked but it does have financial incentives for success with clubs getting £20,000 for participating and then £10,000 for every win in the group stages and £5,000 for a draw.

A win in the round of 32 earns £20,000 and that doubles for the round of 16, then goes up to £50,000 for a quarter-final success. The runners-up at Wembley get £50,000 and winners £100,000.

County were semi-finalists in 2019/20 when beaten on penalties by Salford at Rodney Parade and lost 3-1 at MK Dons two years ago.

Nelson Jardim's side led against Cheltenham thanks to a Kieron Evans goal and were well on top at Rodney Parade until a red card for goalkeeper Jacob Carney turned the game on the stroke of half-time.

They then beat West Ham Under-21s 1-0 in Newport thanks to a late goal by Oliver Greaves.

Head coach Jardim has named strong sides in the competition and is likely to rotate his squad to give chances to senior figures at Reading, with the fixture in between Saturday's trip to Tranmere and a home game against Grimsby.

Progress would enable him to get more minutes for fringe figures with the last 32 tie sitting in between a home game against Carlisle and trip to Colchester next month.