NEWPORT face some real selection headaches as they look to move off the bottom of the Principality Premiership in this weekend’s Gwent derby with Bedwas, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

The Black and Ambers are short of props with their promising tighthead Alex Jeffries on Wales Under-20s duty this weekend.

The front rower is among the replacements for the Six Nations clash away to France on Saturday night, along with centre Barney Nightingale.

They are also without their captain and openside flanker Ollie Griffiths who starts that Wales Under-20s clash in Saint-Gaudens.

The good news for the Rodney Parade outfit is that their experienced former London Welsh second row Adam Brown has recovered from a rib injury to lead the side.

They are also boosted by the return of highly rated back row forward Sam Cross who was recently away in New Zealand with the Wales Sevens squad.

New signing Llywarch ap Myrddin will make his second appearance for the club, on the wing this time, after the North Walian, usually a centre, was cup-tied last weekend.

Both Newport and Bedwas go into this fixture having chalked up comfortable Swalec Cup tie victories last Saturday to the reach the quarter-finals.

The Black and Ambers enjoyed a comprehensive 41-9 win at Tata Steel while Bedwas taught Cardiff Met a harsh lesson, the students being put to the sword 56-3 at the Bridge Field.

Not so great for Newport is that veteran lock Adam Frampton is unavailable this weekend, while they carry a crippling injury list.

It includes wings Jonathan Morris (shoulder) and Owen Broad (Achilles), centre Dan Robinson (back), outside half Matt O’Brien (shoulder), hooker Will Evans (shoulder) and back row forwards Sam Waldron (arm) and Brendan Lampitt (shoulder).

The hosts will be desperate to halt their league slide after two disappointing defeats to Bridgend at home (23-13) and Llanelli (31-11) at Parc y Scarlets came after an encouraging 25-21 victory over a good Carmarthen Quins side.

Although Bedwas battered Cardiff Met last week, they were on the wrong end of bad beating by league and cup champions Pontypridd (51-14) at home seven days before.

If they are to keep their Premiership play-off dreams alive, they need to bounce back at Rodney Parade.

With an early 1.30pm kick-off because of the France v Wales Six Nations clash in Paris, it should be one to savour.

Newport: G O’Driscoll; Ll Ap Myrddin, N Edwards, D Franchi, E Frewen; J Mogg, O Davies; J Greenfield, Andrew Brown, AN Other, Adam Brown (capt), D Partridge, S Feehan, R Jenkins, S Cross.

Replacements: D Rogers, D Pattison, J Monck, E Whitson, A Quick, C Rees, J Lewis, AN Other.