HEAD coach Craig Warlow believes competition for places is helping fuel Newport's impressive start to the season as they prepare to host Llandovery in the Principality Premiership (kick-off 1pm).

The Black and Ambers head into the clash on the back of an excellent 30-22 success at Carmarthen Quins – a result that puts them within another victory of matching their entire 2014/15 league tally of five.

Selection problems – unavailability and injury misfortune – have plagued Newport, who finished bottom last season, for a number of years.

However, it was telling that out west they took the spoils even though the hugely influential Ollie Griffiths was on Dragons duty, his fellow back row forward Rhys Jenkins taking the man of the match honours in his absence.

"If you asked the average fan to name our best XV they probably couldn't and that's because we have given plenty of chances to players in our first seven games," said Warlow, who was appointed permanent head coach in the summer.

"We've made sure that we have given the whole squad the opportunity to play so that we can make informed choices on them and ensure that we've got plenty of cover, which we do at the minute."

That will be tested this weekend with Griffiths taking on Treviso this evening while a number of Dragons academy players, and also wing Elliot Frewen, are poised to play for the British and Irish Cup squad in their friendly against Harlequins on Monday.

"We are really excited to have another home game and Llandovery will be a really good test of where we are at," said Warlow.

"There have been so many positives so far this season but we are working hard to continually improve and have had some good results.

"We are striving to keep getting better and we know that there are a lot of good sides in this division who can punish you if you don't execute the basics under pressure, of which Llandovery are certainly one."

The Drovers have made an excellent start to the campaign themselves with five wins from seven – including successes against the other Gwent trio of Cross Keys, Bedwas and Ebbw Vale.