NEWPORT know from experience that they will be facing a fired-up Bridgend when they travel to the Brewery Field to take on the Principality Premiership’s bottom club.

The Black and Ambers spent much of last season propping up the table and finished last, grateful that SSE Swalec Championship champions Bargoed did not have the criteria for promotion.

Newport have started this season in much more promising fashion with two wins and two-narrow losses from their five games.

The Ravens, meanwhile, are yet to notch a point but former Bridgend fly-half Craig Warlow expects a fierce encounter at his old stomping ground this evening (FRI, kick-off 7.15pm).

“The pressure builds when you don’t win,” said the Newport head coach. “We were in that position last season so know they will have plenty of fuel to drive them on.

“I’m looking forward to going back to Bridgend, I’ve got a lot of happy memories from there as a player and as a coach which makes me even more determined to get a win.

“To do that we will need to show control and do the basics really well in addition to the resilience that we have shown so far.”

The Black and Ambers certainly showed plenty of spirit at Aberavon last weekend to scrap back to level at 24-24 when young Dragons academy fly-half Arwel Robson converted his own try in the last minute.

However, the Wizards stole the spoils with the last kick to maintain their perfect start to the season.

“Under the new points system you are only a score away from being completely out of the game or being back in it,” said Warlow.

“We probably had opportunities to build on our (16-14) half-time lead but then hung on in there and after getting back to level-pegging were disappointed that a penalty was awarded when a knock-on was missed.

“But it was clear for everyone to see last year that we needed a different mindset and we have been trying to breed resilience and that gives us a base to work from.”

Newport will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season when their trip to the Brewery Field provided the Ravens with their first win of the campaign.

The 29-25 loss was one of many games that got away for the Black and Ambers and Bridgend completed a league double by winning 23-13 at Rodney Parade.