NEWPORT captain Simon Raiwalui faces a race against time if he is to be fit for the Celtic League quarter-final against Leinster at Donnybrook a week tomorrow.

It will be the third time for the rival clubs to meet in five weeks, the other twice in the Heineken Cup.

Raiwalui (pictured) first injured his neck against Toulouse on October 6, but played on thinking it was soreness.

He aggravated the injury playing for Fiji against the French Barbarians nearly a fortnight ago.

He returned to Newport from France early and this week was examined by a specialist, who revealed he had slipped two discs.

Raiwalui is training, but cannot take any contact and is having physiotherapy treatment to try to be fit for Dublin.

Newport have still not heard from fellow lock Mike Voyle whether he is to return from New Zealand and take the offer of a contract for the rest of the season. He is due to return this weekend, but has family problems with a wife and young child in New Zealand and another on the way.

Newport will also be keeping fingers crossed that Wales lock Ian Gough is not injured against Australia on Sunday with the Leinster game following five days later and that No 8 Andrew Powell recovers from a dead leg which ruled him out for Wales A against Uruguay.

Wing Martyn Llewellyn, who played his first game of the season against Uruguay on Sunday, suffered a major injury blow.

Soon after scoring a thrilling try from a 70-yard touchline dash, Llewellyn went off. He has broken an arm and will be out for the rest of the season.

The four Irish provinces have called off their championship programme this weekend to give their players a break before storming the Celtic League quarter-finals. That is an indication of how seriously they are taking the competition.

Apart from Newport's game, Neath are in Ulster on Friday night while the following day Llanelli face Munster in Limerick.

Ireland have had a heavy schedule with three postponed Six Nations matches against Scotland, Wales and England and two November internationals against New Zealand and Somoa, as well as Heineken Cup and Celtic League commitments. So in an effort to recharge the batteries of their leading players there will be no provincial championship this weekend.

All of which will mean a difficult third game for Newport against Leinster. But Newport, whose coach Ian McIntosh is now back from a break at his South Africa home, also intend taking the quarter-final with the utmost seriousness. They want to come out of their trio of matches against the star-studded Leinster team with one victory, tough though that will be.

If they succeed they will have 'home' advantage in the semi-finals against either Connacht or Glasgow on December 7 or 8.

Their home advantage means they would not be at Rodney Parade if they get through, however, but at a venue in Wales, possibly the Cardiff club ground. If Newport and Llanelli both lose in Ireland next weekend they will meet in a televised Welsh/Scottish League game at Stradey Park on Friday night, December 7.