NEWPORT RFC bid to make it an occasion to remember for Jon Morris when the popular back brings up his 150 for the club at Cardiff in the Premiership this afternoon.

The Black and Ambers head to the capital hunting revenge after being dumped out of the Premiership Cup in the first round.

Ty Morris’ men are flying in the league with four bonus-point wins on the spin lifting them to second, three points back on Llandovery with a game in hand.

Cardiff are having a mixed campaign but this famous fixture is sure to bring the best out of them.

Newport hammered Pontypridd last time out and Morris makes just three changes with tighthead Dan Suter, lock Barney Langton-Cryer (fresh from his Dragons debut) and wing Lloyd Lewis coming into the XV.

Morris, who scored his 50th try recently at Aberavon, starts at outside centre to bring up his 150th appearance since joining from Newbridge in 2014.

Newport could end the day on top of the pile if Gwent rivals Pontypool triumph at Llandovery.

Third-placed Pooler are impressing on their return to the top flight – it’s seven league wins on the spin since losing at Rodney Parade on opening weekend – and would really make a statement by winning against the champions at Church Bank.

Leighton Jones’ men will need to be on top of their game to do so and the head coach makes two changes to the XV that beat Ebbw Vale.

Ollie Drake returns at tighthead prop while Josh Malson makes his first Premiership start at full-back.

Fourth-placed Ebbw Vale are not in action this weekend.

TEAMS

Newport (at Cardiff): I Davies; Lewis, Morris, O’Brien, Andrew; Penny, Hope; Workman, Palmer, Suter, Skinner, Langton-Cryer, Jenkins, Tayler, Roach (captain).

Replacements: Langley, Fry, Gibbons, Reid, Young, Buckland, Lloyd, Foster-Smith.

Pontypool (at Llandovery): Malson; Price, Lewis, Mahoney, Nove; Jarvis, M Lloyd, Cochrane, Scarfe, Drake, Randall, Sweet, Herbert, C Davies, Matthews (captain).

Replacements: Griffiths, Kelleher-Griffiths, P Lloyd, Johnson, Grey, Flanagan, O Davies, Moa.

FIXTURES

Premiership: Cardiff v Newport, Llandovery v Pontypool, Merthyr v Aberavon, Pontypridd v Swansea, RGC v Carmarthen Quins. (Thursday result: Neath 19 Bridgend 26).

Championship East: Bargoed v Cardiff Met, Bedwas v Newbridge, Glamorgan Wanderers v Treorchy, Penallta v Ystrad Rhondda, Rumney v Cross Keys, St Peters v Beddau.