"Allan Lewis"
"Welcome back to Rodney Parade. It seems an age since we not only played a game, but were here at Rodney Parade. And you have to go even further back for our last Welsh/Scottish league fixture."
"But the club season returns to normal after the break for international rugby and we have a huge month ahead of us."
"With six teams locked on 15 points at the top of the table, the results this month are going to be critical in who eventually carries off the title. We have four home matches in December and two away fixtures, none of which are going to be easy."
"We start with a Gwent derby against Cross Keys, last season's Division One champions and a side which ran the American Eagles close in their most recent match. That performance showed that despite their lowly position in the league they are a team that demands respect."
"David Rees, their coach, has done a great job in developing an enterprising brand of rugby with limited resources at Pandy Park and so far this season Keys have scored tries against most teams. With ex-Newport players like Andrew Gibbs and Gary Hicks in their pack, we know they are going to present a mighty challenge today."
"There could also be a bit of sibling rivalry this afternoon with our own Shane Howarth coming up against his brother, Arthur, who is playing in the Keys back row this season. Shane doesn't normally struggle for motivation, but the prospect of playing against his brother is bound to spark a little extra in him today."
"Not only that, having recently become a father again I'm sure he will have an extra spring in his step. Everyone connected with the Newport squad woidd like to offer their formal "congratulations" to Shane, his wife Marcella and their young son Grayson on the arrival of Devlin on November 9th."
"Even though we haven't played a competitive game since our Heineken Cup defeat in Castres on 28 October, a lot of our players have been involved in international rugby. Ian Gough scored his first Test try in the victory over Samoa and Andy Marinos and Alix Popham were involved with Wales A in their games against New Zealand A and South Africa A."
"Matthew Watkins was a try scorer for the Wales Development XV against the USA and Ceri Jones and James Richards also played in that match. Darren Edwards and Jason Forster have been away with the Wales Sevens side in Durban and Dubai, as have Ben Breeze and Jon Pritchard with the England squad."
"The rest of the players have been training hard and preparing for a vital two months before the Six Nations kicks off. The Welsh/Scottish League will dominate our thoughts in December, with vital home games against Keys today, Llanelli next week, Edinburgh Reivers and finally Cardiff on Boxing Day."
"The Principality Cup rears its head at the end of the month before we go back into Europe for two final pool games. Exciting times."
"Allan Lewis"
"Focus on Cross Keys"
"It is great to see David Rees, one of our former players, back at Rodney Parade this afternoon as coach to Welsh Scottish League new boys Cross Keys."
"I am sure most of us remember the contribution Dai made to this club during his spell in the Black and Ambers. So, it should come as no real surprise that Dai is fast becoming one of the most well respected youg coaches in the Welsh game."
"It has certainly been a difficult time for Dai and the club this season. Despite working to a tight budget and with other difficulties to boot, the club has still been able to hold its head high. The victories that so many of their supporters had hoped for, might not have come, but the rugby they are playing at Pandy Park these days, is further confirmation of the ambition that lies within the club."
"During the summer and having successfully achieved promotion last time around, Dai and his team management spent wisely in building a team that would hopefully prove competitive both in the domestic league and the European Shield."
"Andrew Gibbs and Gary Hicks, both former Black and Ambers, are amongst the players who arrived at the club in the closed season, while others of note included Rhodri Davies from Llanelli and Bridgend's Chris Budgeon."
"Unfortunately, the loss to a facial injury of Ioan Bebb, has hit the club particularly hard and Rees believes it took a great deal of stuffing out of the side."
"It was disappointing to lose Ioan, but we have to get on with things and hopefully we will keep showing some improvement."
"Captain Steve Gardner has been a rock in the pack while Gibbs has given that extra bit of steel on the back row."
"The last league visit to Rodney Parade came in 1993-94 when Newport won 23-20 while the home game that season ended in a narrow 13-7 win for the Black and Ambers."
"Ironically, that home victory came on the back of 15 points from Dai Rees with Duncan Hughes also crossing for a try while Andrew Lewis was on the try mark at Pandy Park later that season."
"Today's game promises to be a real test for the Keys, but whether they can earn themselves a much needed win or not, it certainly won't be for the want of trying."
"The spirit and commitment throughout the squad is something that Rees has been delighted with all season and as Begles Bordeaux almost found out, you take this side lightly at your peril."
"Home form has been better than their away days, but the short distance from Pandy Park to Rodney Parade means there will be plenty of support for the side this afternoon."