NEWPORT boss Craig Warlow hopes the passes keep sticking as the buoyant Black and Ambers aim to stay in top eight contention by beating Aberavon at Rodney Parade, .

Four wins from four in November has kept Newport just about in the hunt for a top-half place that earns a tilt at the title after January 7.

They sit 11th, eight points behind eighth-placed Llandovery with fixtures to come against the Wizards on Saturday, Cross Keys, RGC 1404 and Bargoed. The Black and Ambers just have to keep winning and hope for the best.

“There are 20 points to be collected and if we do that then it keeps us in the frame,” said head coach Warlow.

“We need to win against Aberavon to stay in the hunt and we are just looking to build on recent performances.

“I think our slow start affected us but we have started to do things better and those 50/50 passes are now being caught. We’ve not changed anything radically from the start of the season, we are just playing with confidence and that minimises mistakes.”

They prepare to host a Wizards side who sit second despite an indifferent November in which they lost two and drew one of their four fixtures.

“They have got good players and I am sure Jason (Hyatt, head coach) works hard with them,” said Warlow, himself a former Aberavon coach.

“They got on a roll and their recent form doesn’t really reflect where they are. Aberavon will be keen to get the show back on the road but they are sure to be in the top eight.”

Newport have suffered a blow with back row forward Brendan Lampitt facing several months out because of shoulder surgery.

BARGOED can make fourth-placed Pontypridd sweat on their top-half place if they upset the odds at Sardis Road.

The Premiership new boys have endured a tough introduction to the top flight but have shown plenty of fight in recent narrow losses to Ebbw Vale, Bedwas, Cardiff and Cross Keys.