NEWPORT need to end a difficult week on a high when the basement outfit welcome Cardiff to Rodney Parade in the Principality Premiership on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm).

On Tuesday the Black and Ambers parted company with club stalwart Sven Cronk, who brought forward his planned end-of-season exit as head coach.

His assistants Craig Warlow and Dai Gray will take the reins until the end of the campaign along with team manager Mark Workman and they need a swift response from the squad.

Last weekend’s 42-14 home loss to Bedwas was made all the more disheartening by the news from the Gnoll of fellow strugglers Neath’s 15-10 success against Cardiff.

It leaves the Black and Ambers, who won’t go down even if they finish bottom because Championship champions-elect Bargoed don’t have the criteria for promotion, seven points back on Bridgend and in desperate need of a fourth league victory of the season against the Blue and Blacks.

“It’s been a difficult week but that’s sport,” said Warlow. “Sven said to the players on Tuesday that he did this for the best reasons, to get a response in the short-term and going forward.

“We’ve got to look inside the circle and everybody needs to give all they can. We can’t continue like last week and a dramatic improvement is needed from the squad.

“There’s nothing like a game against Cardiff to sharpen the minds and we can’t be as bad as we were individually against Bedwas.

“It’s really important that we get the basics right – do the simple stuff really well and we will stand a great chance of getting an important win.”

Cronk’s departure doesn’t change the fact that Newport are hindered by a lengthy injury list and absentees.

Wales sevens international Sam Cross is still out and his fellow back row forward Ollie Griffiths is being wrapped in cotton wool by the Under-20s such is his importance to the Six Nations campaign.

However, the Black and Ambers are poised to be boosted by the presence of his fellow age-grade internationals Alex Jeffries, Barney Nightingale and Owen Davies at tighthead, centre/wing and scrum-half respectively.