ALL eyes will be on Forest Farm tomorrow as first and second in the top tier of the South Wales Premier League lock horns with the title on the line.

Reigning champions Newport go into their penultimate match of the season knowing they can’t afford to lose to leaders Cardiff if the Division One trophy is to stay at Spytty Park.

The Welsh capital outfit currently hold a 14-point advantage over Matthew Norris’ men with a brace of fixtures left for both.

Victory this weekend would give Cardiff the honours, while Newport must win, pick up as many bonus points as they can and keep Cardiff’s tally as low as possible to take the title race to the final Saturday of the campaign.

A knock of 95 from skipper Greg Holmes saw Cardiff lay one hand on the trophy last time out, as an 18-point haul in a winning draw against Port Talbot countered Newport’s defeat of Penarth.

Newport suffered a further blow on Sunday when their hopes of retaining the South Wales Premier League Twenty20 Cup were dashed by Port Talbot.

Having made 138-5, Newport fell at the semi-final stage as their opponents scored the required runs with three balls to spare.

Assessing tomorrow’s crunch encounter, Newport coach Mike Knight said: “Everyone is looking forward to the game and the lads are really keyed up for it.

“We’re thinking Cardiff are likely to win their last game of the season so it’s now or never for us.

“We have got to win this, and win it well.

“If we can win and close the gap then the pressure will be on Cardiff going into the final match.

“We were in a similar position last season, top of the league by eight points with a game to go and thinking we had to win it.

“It went right to the wire, we lost, but Cardiff couldn’t win their game either.

“I think it will be a close one at Forest Farm and it’ll come down to whoever plays the best cricket on the day.”

Newport are without opening bowler Harry Powell but Callum Taylor, who this week became the leading wicket taker in a season for the Wales Minor Counties side, is raring to go.

Meanwhile, after 10 games without a win, Newport Fugitives finally had something to celebrate last Saturday when they stunned Division Two leaders St Fagans.

The Saints dropped to second as John Berry took four wickets and Richard Jones top-scored with 77 to seal a five-wicket triumph for the Fugies.

It’s Swansea at home for the Fugies tomorrow, while Panteg go to new leaders Tata Steel.

Ian Bird’s charges leapt into third spot with a winning draw against Carmarthen Wanderers and, like the Fugies, could have a big say in the destination of the league title.

There are three rounds of fixtures left in South East Wales Premier League Division One and 11 points separate frontrunners Newbridge and nearest rivals Malpas.

Newbridge entertain struggling Pontypridd tomorrow so will be in with a good chance of a third win on the bounce.

All Malpas can do is keep up the pressure with a handsome points haul against fifth-placed Sudbrook.

Brecon, in third, host Usk, Blackwood travel to Croesyceiliog and Chepstow, three points behind Brecon, visit Pentyrch.