NEWPORT will be without skipper Michael Clayden and Glamorgan star Dean Cosker tomorrow as they look to complete a league double over Ammanford.

Imran Hassan, who blasted a century in the Gwent side’s 117-run defeat of the West Wales outfit at Spytty Park on the first day of the season, deputises for Clayden.

Hassan captains the current South Wales Premier League Division One leaders following a winning draw against fellow title contenders Port Talbot Town last time out.

Third-placed Port Talbot have home advantage this weekend when they take on Cardiff, the team second in the standings just six points behind Newport.

As for Newport’s opponents, they are yet to win at their Ammanford Park ground this summer, however, Alun Evans’ men thrashed Mumbles by eight wickets last Saturday.

On top of that, seventh-placed Ammanford have only lost once in their previous half-a-dozen outings.

And while Newport got the better off them on matchday one, Clayden is aware that tomorrow’s hosts will present a much tougher challenge this time around.

“They had a few players missing for that first game,” he said. “I’ve been looking at the teams they have been fielding recently and there are some good sides there.

“They’ve been in good form and performed well under pressure given where they were in the table.

“Mumbles were one of the frontrunners for the league but Ammanford beat them comfortably last weekend.

“It will be a tough challenge for us and we know we’ll have to be up for it.”

Elsewhere in the division, Swansea go to Marespool for a derby clash with Mumbles, Bridgend travel to the Gnoll to take on Neath, and Pontarddulais host Ynysygerwn.

Meanwhile, Newport host Blackwood in the last 16 of the Welsh Cup on Sunday.

In Division Two, Panteg will be hoping there is no hangover from their top-of-the-table defeat to Penarth.

Ian Bird’s troops came out second best to their title rivals and dropped to third in the table behind second-placed Ynystawe.

If there was one side they would have picked to play after last Saturday’s four-wicket loss then it probably was Aberdare.

Panteg thrashed their Cynon Valley visitors, who are 32 points adrift at the foot of the division, by 10 wickets in the first match of the season and a repeat performance tomorrow is just what they need.

In contrast to Panteg, Newbridge triumphed in their first versus second encounter in South East Wales League Division One six days ago.

Captain James Morgan led his men to first place with a six-wicket success against Chepstow, and Newbridge are home again tomorrow as they face Newport Fugitives.

“We’re on a bit of a roll at the moment,” said Morgan, whose charges have won their last five. “I wouldn’t say the Chepstow game was a league decider by any means but we played well and the win put us top of the table.

“We’ve got five out this weekend but we’ve got some talented youngsters and it gives them an opportunity to come in and do well.”

David Fortune, Lewis Parfitt, Will Davey, Shaun Collier and Jake Watkins are the players missing for Newbridge.

Chepstow face another tough day at the office with a trip to Pontypridd, Croesyceiliog host Sudbrook, Usk visit Blackwood and Abergavenny entertain Radyr.

There was relief all round at Avenue Road last Saturday as Abergavenny finally broke their duck to record a first win of the campaign.

William Glenn and Dan Cooke both scored half-centuries and Luke Bowen took 5-22 in a 77-run victory over Sudbrook, one which saw Geraint Leach’s team climb off the bottom of the table at Radyr’s expense.

“We had come reasonably close to winning in the last few matches,” said Leach. “We’ve got a young squad and everyone pulled together, and we put in a good performance to beat Sudbrook.

“This weekend’s game is big because both teams are at the bottom of the table, but hopefully we can build on our first win and get another one.”