SWANSEA may be missing a number of their young flyers but Newport have been warned that they must remain on red alert for tomorrow’s trip to St Helen’s (kick-off 1pm).

Both sides are without a number of players with international and Ospreys call-ups hitting the hosts, who are without star fly-half Matthew Morgan, wing Eli Walker, centre Hanno Dirksen and lock James Goode among others.

The Black and Ambers are without back row forwards Hugo Ellis and Andrew Coombs and lock Adam Brown, who are on Dragons duty, while Matt Evans and Rhys Jones are playing sevens in Las Vegas for Canada and Wales, respectively.

Newport will, however, be helped by the presence of centre Nathan Brew and lock Adam Jones, playing at blindside, for what coach Dai Gray believes will be a stern test.

“Swansea are missing a few but they are still a really dangerous side on their own patch,” he said.

“They are a very pacy side and are suited to playing at St Helen’s. They have threats all over the pitch and we will need to be on our game defensively.

“We will have to make our first-up tackles and close down their space because they can strike from anywhere.”

The Black and Ambers have won all six of their games in 2011, the latest success being a routine 12-try Swalec Cup drubbing of Division One West minnows Felinfoel.

“We will go down to Swansea full of confidence because we have been playing some good rugby,” said Gray.

“It all started with a hard win at Bedwas and stringing together victories builds belief in the camp.”

Newport hand a first start of the season to wing Mike Poole after he made his comeback from injury last week while skipper Alex Jones returns to his favoured position of lock after filling in at blindside flanker in Felinfoel.

Former Newport fly-half James Dixon will be pulling the strings for the Whites, who are still able to field a dangerous set of three-quarters.

Nicky Thomas, Dai Watts and Chris Shelmerdine were all key figures in the side that finished as Premiership runners-up last year.

Newport: A Awcock, M Pewtner, N Brew, S Williams, M Poole, G Bowen, J Leadbeater, D Pattison, A Brown, G Robinson, D Rosser, Alex Jones (captain), Adam Jones, C Hill, S Waldron. Replacements: A Ellis, I Evans, M Leaman, A Frampton, J Davies, C Wannell, O Broad.