NEWPORT bid to snatch top spot from visitors Llanelli at Rodney Parade tomorrow afternoon and aim to do it in style.

The Black and Ambers have made a superb start to the Premiership campaign and only Neath can better their tally of 30 tries, and that is by just one after playing a game more.

Wing Mike Poole leads the way with six, already passing the total of five that ensured Richard Fussell finished as top scorer last term, while the pack are also getting in on the act with a combined contribution of nine.

And forwards coach Dai Gray, who returned to Rodney Parade in the summer, believes that a confident Newport front eight are relishing getting the ball through the hands.

“Over the last few seasons Newport, like a lot of sides in Gwent, have always had a strong pack,” he said. “The driving maul was a massive part of the game but the ELVs have taken away from that as a weapon.

“That has meant we have played a bit more rugby and that means it is important that forwards are comfortable with ball in hand, and we are lucky in that sense.

“I think Ian Evans summed that up against Swansea really, it is terrific when you see a prop bursting down the wing and stopping to look for supporting players.

“There aren’t always clear lines and forwards have to be mobile while backs have to be able to do their bit. At the moment the likes of Scott Williams and Tom Riley are getting us over the gain line and getting us moving forward.”

Llanelli, like Newport, have lost just once this season and have already recorded excellent away victories at Bridgend, Cross Keys and Pontypool.

But the key to the Black and Ambers’ title hopes is their Rodney Parade form and Gray knows that they need to be on song to preserve their 100 per cent record on their own patch.

He said: “From what we have seen of Llanelli they look like a young, athletic side. They like to play attractive rugby and they are obviously doing things right because they are at the top of the table.

“We will need to be on our game and all the focus has been on how we approach it rather than going overboard at looking at them.

“Sven (Cronk, head coach) brought in some top notch players this summer and the squad is starting to believe in themselves. They worked so hard in pre-season and I think our start has been down to that.

“With all good sides it’s a case of the quality of the individuals making coaching easier and, with results going well, we have been able to just concentrate on managing the team - the players have been driving us forward.”

There is just one change from the side that won at Glamorgan Wanderers with Jason Tovey coming in at full-back for Paul Jones, who has a shoulder injury.

Newport: J Tovey, M Pizey, T Riley, S Williams, M Poole, D Griffiths, A Quick, D Pattison, A Brown, G Robinson, M Workman, A Jones, R Dale, C Hill, A Coombs (captain).

Replacements: T Isaacs, M Schropfer, N Williams, I Evans, M Leaman, D McShane, M Amos.