NEWPORT’S midfield crisis has deepened after influential centre Scott Williams was ruled out of action for 10 weeks.

The Black and Ambers will be without their vice-captain for tomorrow’s trip to Aberavon and will hand the number 12 jersey to Chris Wannell, who is normally a fly-half.

He will be partnered by Nathan Williams, himself a wing, in a midfield that has not been settled all season.

The mainstay has been 27-year-old Williams, who not only provides plenty of go-forward but also leads the defensive effort, but he has been sidelined by a broken right thumb.

“Losing Scott is a huge blow,” admitted head coach Sven Cronk. “That is shown by the stats – I think he has played every game since I have been here. It makes it hard for us but there is a chance for someone else now. However, it has been a problem all season.

“In the summer we had Scott as well as Tom Riley, who has gone to the Dragons, and Adam Hughes, who is injured. So we are up against it.”

After coming agonisingly close to ending one formidable home record, Newport will try to emerge victorious from another fortress when they head to the Talbot Athletic Ground.

The Black and Ambers had victory snatched away at the death when losing 21-20 at Pontypridd last Saturday.

Dean Gunter struck a last-gasp penalty to preserve Ponty’s unbeaten near-two-year home record and also ensured Newport are still searching for their first away win of the campaign when they head west.

It won’t be easy against the Wizards but the Black and Ambers are one of the few sides to have enjoyed their league trips to the Talbot Athletic Ground in recent years.

They won with a bonus point there at the end of last season and Ian Hembrow’s side won there in 2007.

Newport sit in seventh place, one place and one point below the Wizards, and Cronk wants a more cutthroat approach.

He said: “We played much better in Pontypridd and it was in the bag to be honest, we just didn’t shut the game out.

“Aberavon is just as tough a place to go and they have changed their attitude under (coaches) Simon King and Nicky Lloyd over the last few seasons.

“They play some really good rugby but their pack is still a handful. They are one of the best scrummaging sides in the league and our set piece will have to be strong.

“But despite the results, I don’t think you can read too much into things away from home. Apart from Swansea we haven’t been far off and we proved last week that we can front up.”

Newport Gwent Dragon Will Harries comes in on the wing while Dan Griffiths returns at fly-half. The pack is unchanged.

Newport: G Wyatt, M Poole, N Williams, C Wannell, W Harries, D Griffiths, A Walker, D Pattison, A Brown, G Robinson, D Rosser, A Jones, S Waldron, P Williams, A Coombs (captain). Replacements: D Walsh, A Quick, D James, L Hunter, M Leaman, M Workman, R Dale.