THE BRITISH and Irish Cup has provided Newport with plenty of fond memories and they must win at Rodney Parade this afternoon if they are to stand a chance of claiming foreign scalps next season.

The Black and Ambers host Tonmawr and the prize for the winners is a trip to Pandy Park on Thursday to face sixth-placed Cross Keys for the final place in next season’s cross-border competition.

Exeter, the Cornish Pirates and Leinster have all fallen victim to Newport over the past two years but now Sven Cronk’s men must deal with the 2010 Division One West champions rather than full-time professionals.

Tonmawr have had an excellent first season in the Premiership and were very close to pipping Newport to seventh place in the table.

That would have led to the Whitworth Ground being the venue for today’s play-off clash rather than the Parade.

Ton coach Jason Hyatt is heading to Swansea at the end of the season so Newport will be bidding to make today his last game in charge of the Pitmen.

But they know all too well that they will have to battle until the final whistle if they are to secure a showdown with Keys.

The Black and Ambers hosted Tonmawr last month and appeared to be cruising when 32-19 in the final quarter. However, the visitors came firing back and it was only desperate defence that stopped them stealing the spoils at the death.

Wing Matthew Pewtner caused Tonmawr all manner of problems that afternoon and crossed for two tries but he will not feature this afternoon.

The 20-year-old is on holiday in Barbados and that means extra responsibility in attack will fall on the young shoulders of livewire wing Owen Broad.

But, as always, the key to success lies up front and Newport will be looking for big performances from their in-form back row forwards Craig Hill and Hugo Ellis and prop Gethin Robinson, the cornerstone of their front eight.

The Black and Ambers have not lost at Rodney Parade since early November and should have enough to keep that record in tact until 2011/12.

Tonmawr, however, have been ripping up the script all season and will be keen to provide Hyatt with one last shock.