NEWPORT head coach Sven Cronk is hoping his Black and Ambers side can start showing some consistent away form tonight by beating Swansea in their Principality Premiership Play-off Championship clash at St Helens.

Newport are ravaged by injury with second row Adam Brown needing an operation after tearing ankle ligaments in the 20-15 away defeat to Pontypool a fortnight ago.

Winger Mike Poole is out after suffering a reoccurence of a hamstring problem in the emphatic 47-14 win at Carmarthen Quins last Tuesday night in which he scored a brace of tries.

And their influential skipper and No 8 Andrew Coombs has picked up a bump on his shoulder playing for the Newport Gwent Dragons in their narrow 20-14 defeat to Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade on Friday night.

He is a major doubt for tonight’s game.

“We are a bit bruised and battered,” admitted Cronk.

“But we are certainly up for tonight’s game and it gives us a chance to win something and to finish the season on a high.

“We are not going down there just to roll over.”

Newport will certainly have their work cut to beat the All Whites who are a formidable side at home, unbeaten since at St Helens since Neath won there in the league 31-27 back in mid October.

After that defeat to the eventual league champions, runners-up Swansea have gone on to win ten games in succession at home, racking up some big scores.

Cronk said: “Swansea play some good football as the number of bonus points they have picked up indicates.

“They beat us 38-6 at St Helens back in September.

“But I feel we have already avenged that when we beat them 43-9 last month in the return game at Rodney Parade.

“Our away form this season has been our Achilles heel and it’s something we’re looking to improve on.”

Other round one play-offs tonight: Neath v Pontypridd (kick-off 7.15pm), Aberavon v Llandovery (kick-off 7.15pm).

And on Thursday night: Llanelli v Cardiff (kick-off 8.10pm)