NEWPORT head coach Sven Cronk is sure than Dan McShane will grasp his opportunity at number eight after influential skipper Andrew Coombs was ruled out of the busy festive period.

Coombs damaged his medial knee ligaments in the win over Bedwas a fortnight ago and will be out until February.

The presence of former Neath and Cardiff man McShane is welcome with games coming thick and fast and he slots straight in for the cup tie with Blackwood.

With the possibility of a heavy ground at Rodney Parade given tonight’s clash between Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys, the powerful runner will play an important role alongside Richard Dale and Craig Hill in the back row.

“Dan can play anywhere in the back row and also lock but prefers to play at number 8, and this is his chance,” said Cronk. “He has done well for us so far this season and will play an big part over the next few weeks.”

There is no danger of the Black and Ambers underestimating their visitors given Blackwood’s impressive league form.

Newport have mixed some terrific home showings with some disastrous ones and will be keen to avoid becoming a high-profile scalp.

“We had a look at Blackwood when they played Penallta last week and it was a good win,” said Cronk.

“They have a lively pack, good ball carriers and an intelligent 10.

“They will be totally up for it and it is a big chance for them to impress at Rodney Parade. They will want to get stuck into some Premiership players and we are fully aware of the threat that they will bring.

“But it is about us getting our game going rather than worrying about them too much. We are not expecting it to be easy but we would expect to have control on our own patch.”

Newport welcome Hill back from Wales Sevens duty where he made an impression, as did scrum half Tom Isaacs who is on the bench for the Dragons tonight and again for the Black and Ambers tomorrow.

Newport: M McLean, N Williams, T Riley, S Williams (captain), M Poole, D Griffiths, A Quick, D Pattison, A Brown, A Murphy, M Workman, A Jones, R Dale, C Hill, D McShane. Replacements: T Isaacs, M Schropfer, S Taylor, I Evans, M Leaman, M Amos, T Organ.