CENTRE Tom Riley will wear black and amber again tomorrow to ease Newport’s midfield worries.

The 24-year-old has made a big impact since moving up to Newport Gwent Dragons in the summer but links up with his old team-mates for the clash with Cardiff (kick-off 1pm).

The Black and Ambers had to throw the number 12 and 13 jerseys to a fly-half and a wing last weekend but still came away with a terrific win at Aberavon.

Chris Wannell once again slots in at inside centre and will benefit from the experience of Riley outside him.

“It’s great news,” said head coach Sven Cronk. “He wanted to come back to play for us and he has got a terrific attitude.”

Newport will have to move up another gear when they welcome Cardiff to the Parade but Pontypridd provided the blueprint for victory last Saturday.

A brutal display put the Blue and Blacks on the back foot and allowed the leaders to inflict a third defeat of the season on the champions.

Newport humbled Cardiff in last season’s corresponding fixture before being given the same treatment at the Arms Park and Sven Cronk knows it will be a bruising encounter.

“We know how tough it will be against Cardiff and their win at Neath shows what a good side they are,” he said.

“But Ponty tore into them at the Arms Park last weekend and knocked them off their stride – we have got to try and do the same.

“They have a good pack and win a lot of ball for dangerous runners like Gareth Chapman and Ryan Howells, who we obviously know a lot about (they are former Newport players), and we have got to try and get after their set piece.”

Last weekend’s win at the Talbot Athletic Ground was the perfect response to a last-gasp defeat at Sardis Road seven days earlier.

Cronk and his coaching staff were delighted with the determination and concentration shown by their players.

“It as a really good win down at Aberavon, it’s not an easy place to go,” said the head coach.

“I think the most pleasing aspect was that we kept our shape and focus after going so close at Pontypridd.

“Last season we were badly affected by falling at the final hurdle at Sardis Road (when they conceded a last-gasp try) but this time we hit straight back.

“We need to keep doing the same things, we played some good rugby and played it in the right areas.

“There is still plenty to build on, and we need to do better at the breakdown, but we have just got to keep on going.”

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