TOMORROW’S South East Wales derby at the Arms Park in Cardiff will be a good test of Newport’s mental strength, says Black and Ambers head coach Craig Warlow.

Back-to-back bonus-point wins in their first two games of the new Principality Premiership season has given Warlow’s troops the perfect platform ahead of the visit to the capital.

In contrast, Cardiff have registered just one point from clashes with reigning champions Merthyr and Llandovery, who limited them to three points at Church Bank last Saturday.

“It’s really difficult to generate confidence and momentum if you’re not winning,” said Warlow.

“We were lucky to have a good pre-season and hit the ground running in the Premiership.

“Saturday will be a real test for us mentally as much as anything else.”

He added: “We’ve got a good environment but we need for all the players to be engaged in competing for places.

“There hasn’t been a massive turnaround in players so that has benefitted us because of the continuity we’ve had.

“That led to us hitting the ground running and I’m really pleased with how we’ve started the season.”

Tomorrow’s match takes place 72 hours after the death of full-back Ray Cheney, who starred for both clubs during the 1960s and early 70s.

Cheney, who also played for Pontypool, Cross Keys and the RAF, became a record points scorer with Newport and Cardiff.

He passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82 following a battle with cancer.

As well as amassing 435 points in 89 appearances for the Black and Ambers, Cheney was in the side that beat the All Blacks in 1963.

Having been unlucky not to win a Wales cap – he was a reserve on 23 occasions – Cheney was awarded the freedom of Newport in 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand triumph.

After joining Cardiff in 1965, he played in the club’s famous defeat of Australia a year later.