NEWPORT County will go from Bettws to Betis today as they host Spanish giants Real Betis in a hastily arranged pre-season friendly (KO tonight 7.45pm).

The Exiles will swap their training base at Newport High School in Bettws to take on the former Champions League outfit at Spytty Park tonight.

The match was only confirmed yesterday morning after County manager Anthony Hudson received a last minute call as the Spaniards travelled to Wales to face Neath tomorrow night and Swansea City on Saturday.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity for us,” said the Exiles boss. “It will be a great night for everyone involved with the club.

“I got a call late on Monday night. I think a few of their fixtures had fallen through and they wanted a game for their first team in midweek before the match at Swansea. We were happy to help.

“They will provide us with a different test because they will pass the ball really well and try to play at their own pace,” he added.

“Obviously the Kettering game is our priority but this game will be a valuable experience for the squad.”

Hudson will rest injury-doubts Tommy Doherty and Craig McAllister but Scott Rogers could feature after returning to training yesterday.

Real Betis Balompié, to give them their full name, have just been promoted back to La Liga after two seasons in the Segunda División.

They are based in the city of Seville and play their home matches at the 56,500 capacity Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Both the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, and his son, Prince Felipe de Borbon, are honorary members of the club.

They set a world record transfer fee when they bought Brazilian winger Denilson from São Paulo for £21.5.million in 1998.

In a bizarrely ad-hoc pre-season tour Betis have already played County’s old Blue Square Bet South rivals Havant & Waterlooville.

They should have been playing Championship side Portsmouth at the weekend. But Pompey’s return home from an American pre-season tour was delayed.

That led to nearby Havant stepping into the breach and getting a 7-0 beating for their troubles.

And, while County are glad of the toughest of tests ahead of their first league match on August 13, how it will prepare Betis to face Barcelona and Real Madrid is anybody’s guess.