MERTHYR chief Dale McIntosh is well aware that Newport will present a very serious threat to his side’s chances of a maiden National Cup success at the Principality Stadium tomorrow.

The former Wales international knows Black and Ambers “talisman” Matt O’Brien won't need a second invitation to punish any errors from the Ironmen in the Cardiff showpiece.

O’Brien kicked a late penalty to seal a 19-18 win for Newport when the sides met in a league fixture in Merthyr only last month.

As well as chasing a first cup victory, Merthyr also have back-to-back Principality Premiership titles in their sights, as well as a league and knockout competition double this term.

But McIntosh was keen to heap praise on Rodney Parade head coach Craig Warlow and his charges ahead of the game.

“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “Newport have had a very good season, they beat us in the last game and it was a close one before that.

“They are very well-drilled up front thanks to Ty Morris and Mark Workman, their scrum has improved out of sight and they’ve got a very big lineout.

“It’s not as if we can go and strangle them up front.

“Where they are dangerous is their backs, especially that transition. If we make errors then young Matt O’Brien is going to make us pay.

“He’s a talisman for them. When he’s on song they are a different animal.

“We’re expecting a tough, physical game because it’s a cup final. No-one is going to leave anything in the changing rooms or on the pitch.

“It’s going to be everything – blood and guts. It’s totally irrelevant how well you’ve played all season.”

McIntosh has had his fair share of cup glory as a player and coach over the years, and he feels a big part of coming out on top is about coping with pressure.

He said: “The biggest issue for me is how each squad can cope with the emotion and the occasion.

“Just because you’ve been consistently good all season doesn’t mean you aren’t going to freeze.

“I’ve seen pressure do a lot of things to a man and this cup final is no different."

“I’m trying to keep Sunday as normal as possible, you don’t want to get over-excited because you then start losing nervous energy.

“We’re trying to keep it as normal as possible, that way they won’t be freaking out before they walk down the tunnel.

“Because when they do, for a lot of them, they are going to be in awe.”