PONTYPRIDD’S Sardis Road home is known as the ‘House of Pain’, and that name couldn’t be more appropriate for Newport fans over the last decade.

The Black and Ambers venture to Ponty’s artificial playing surface tomorrow in the second round of the WRU National Cup (kick-off 2.30pm) having not won there since October 2006.

Newport have lost the last 10 matches between the sides at Sardis Road, scoring 169 points in the process to Pontypridd’s 342.

The most recent encounter was a Principality Premiership clash in October when the hosts prevailed 36-12 on their way to a top-eight place for the second part of the campaign.

Craig Warlow’s Newport would dearly love a good cup run to try and eclipse the club’s triumph of 2001, when Gary Teichmann led them to glory at the Millennium Stadium.

They kicked off this season’s competition with a hard-fought victory over Swansea at Rodney Parade, while Ponty were comfortable winners against Cardiff Met.

And while Sardis Road has been a tough place to go to for the Black and Ambers, it has by no means been a fortress for the home side this season.

The likes of Ebbw Vale and Merthyr have won there since the start of the campaign, and Bargoed also came out on top on the plastic pitch in a Foster’s Challenge Cup tie.

Elsewhere tomorrow, in-form Bedwas face Merthyr at Bridge Field as they go in search of a possible league and cup double.

Steve Law’s charges are top of tier one of the Premiership after two fixtures, both of which they won away from home.

Having ground out a backs-to-the-wall win against reigning champions Ebbw Vale, Bedwas then went to Carmarthen Quins last weekend and won 24-7.

For Law’s troops and Merthyr, this weekend’s showdown is the first of two between the teams on successive Saturdays.

Bargoed are one from one in tier two of the Premiership but have it all to do in the cup tomorrow when they travel to holders Llandovery.

There is an all-West Wales battle as Carmarthen Quins, runners-up in 2016, make the short trip to Championship side Narberth.

And the Brewery Field is the venue for a north versus south tussle, with Bridgend welcoming RGC 1404.