NEWPORT visit high-flying Bridgend on Saturday with two principal aims -to maintain their return to form and make amends for their heavy defeat at the Brewery Field last season.

A Black and Ambers squad weakened by injuries and Dragons calls suffered four successive Welsh Premier Division defeats between Boxing Day and the end of January.

But since then both the Dragons and their own injury and unavailability problems have eased and they have won three games in eight days, including the excellent one at Aberavon in the cup.

"We have to build on those results but it will be a very tough trip to Bridgend," said coach David Rees.

"It has been a a tough period for us with three quick games while Bridgend have had some recovery time, will pick from a full squad and are on form.

"They deserve to be where they are at the moment. They play good rugby and are particularly strong on their own patch.

"The last time we went down there we put up probably our worst performance of last season (losing 29-0, twice the margin of any other defeat) and we are keen to put that behind us."

Rees suffered some criticism when his squad were going through their difficult spell but is adamant the players will prove better and stronger as a result.

"These things are learning curves for lots of players but the environment remained really positive, we didn't drop our heads and have become a stronger and closer knit squad," he said.

"I hope now that not only will we have a good end to the season but that the players become stronger and better as a result.

"People don't appreciate that I was picking from 19 players three weeks ago.

"Now I'm in the position on Saturday, with the Dragons not in action and players fit again, of having something in the region of seven players who won't even figure on the bench."

He added: "During our tough period people like James Rowles have been a rock.

"The only position he hasn't played behind the scrum this year is scrum half and he's a God-send to any squad.

"He's a happy-go-lucky kind of fellow, a very positive individual, and people such as him, Dai Pattison and others kept the environment at a high pitch when we were losing.

"This has allowed the players returning to step into an environment that wasn't negative."

Another player Rees agreed had played a very positive role in recent months was Dan Griffiths, now restored as the regular outside half with Aled Thomas on Dragons duty.

"He's happy in his personal environment now and that is showing in his play," said Rees. "He's not thinking the be-all and end-all of his career is rugby and he's looking around for other options."