CRAIG Warlow will be trying to steer Newport into the Principality Premiership tier two play-off final tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm) knowing his side’s clash with Llanelli could well have been their last at Rodney Parade.

Black and Ambers shareholders voted in favour of the WRU buying the historic ground and taking over Newport Gwent Dragons on Tuesday.

That meant Newport have secured playing rights at Rodney Parade for as long as professional rugby is staged there, and the news came as a big relief to head coach Warlow.

He and his players can now focus all their attention on the visit of a team that beat them convincingly on their own turf just two weeks ago.

Newport had already qualified for the play-offs going into that 26-9 defeat and weren’t at their best either when losing 29-22 to Cross Keys last Wednesday.

However, Warlow is confident his charges will be able to pick themselves up and produce a result which would take them through to the tier two final next Saturday.

“We’re absolutely ready to go,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the current group of players to sign off as a squad in a positive manner.

“We know that our performances against Llanelli and Keys weren’t good enough but this is a chance for us to win something for the club.”

Reflecting on Tuesday’s vote, Warlow admits he wasn’t at all sure what the outcome would be.

He added: “I think the biggest emotion after the vote was one of relief.

“Having witnessed some of the meetings with supporters and the board I wasn’t confident the ‘yes’ vote would win.

“I have picked up some good vibes since the vote and I think everyone appreciates how close we came to losing something we feel strongly about.

“Hopefully the outcome is going to instil some togetherness among everyone concerned and the supporters can come out in numbers on Saturday.”

Giving his take on the vote, club chairman Will Godfrey said: “This separation of entities means Newport RFC will benefit from an ability to restructure and a new found autonomy.

“This decision also guarantees that we can continue playing at Rodney Parade and build on our proud 140 years of history and tradition here.”

As for Newport’s opponents, they had a rotten start to tier two with three successive defeats leaving their play-off hopes in tatters.

However, triumphs over Cardiff, Swansea, Bargoed and then the Black and Ambers put them in the top four, and when Bridgend failed to pick up any points against Neath they claimed the last play-off berth.

Newport, though, did beat Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets in September, coming out on top 17-13 with Henry Palmer, Adam Brown and Owen Davies crossing to help end a run of eight league losses.