NEWPORT are set to be boosted by the return of back row forward Brendan Lampitt as they attempt to bring some cheer to a miserable campaign by upsetting the odds at Carmarthen Quins in the Swalec Cup.

The 29-year-old is poised to feature in the quarter-final tie after six months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

His presence is a welcome boost to a Black and Ambers side desperate for some joy in what has been a grim season.

Realistically they need to win all three of their remaining games at Rodney Parade against Cross Keys, Llandovery and Aberavon if they are to avoid the embarrassment of finishing bottom of the Principality Premiership.

Last Friday's 24-14 loss at Neath leaves them staring at a six-point gap to 11th-placed Bridgend with just four fixtures left, including a trip to table-topping Pontypridd.

The form of Bargoed, who do not have the criteria for promotion and who attempt to maintain their perfect Swalec Championship record against their only challengers Swansea this weekend, means that at least the Rodney Parade side look set to avoid the drop.

It has been a horror season for Newport fans but acting head coach Craig Warlow is keen to provide them with some cheer.

He said: "Carmarthen Quins are a quality side but, although it's a cliché, it's all on the day in cup rugby.

"We'd prefer not to be in the situation we are in but this is a chance to step away from the league and we are not going to have any mental baggage for 80 minutes.

"It's an exciting and fantastic opportunity. The boys are focused on the challenge and need to relax because we have the quality in our side to get the win.

"We need to apply a bit of pressure to Carmarthen and then if we get the bounce of the ball then things can turn quickly."

Newport have made the last eight for the first time since 2011 and are attempting to make the semi-finals for the first time since they were beaten in the 2003 final by Llanelli.

They earned the Quins tie thanks to a tight win against Aberavon and crushing away success at Tata Steel and must cope without captain and openside Ollie Griffiths, who is set to feature for the Dragons in Treviso, but his Wales Under-20s teammates Alex Jeffries, tighthead, and Owen Davies, scrum-half, are back.