The Exiles make one of their longest treks of the campaign this weekend, invading Roman spa territory in search of a third consecutive League and Cup victory on the road.
A maximum over Harrogate Town at their Exercise Stadium on the Wetherby Road, would see David Hughes’ Newport County escape the League Two trap door to move above Crawley and Cheltenham – if results are favourable.
The Exiles are dented by a plethora of short and long-term injury concerns, but attacking linkman Cai Whitmore is expected to shrug off muscle tightness, coming through a rigorous work out at Leeds United’s Thorpe Arch training ground yesterday on route to North Yorkshire.
Manager Hughes moved quickly earlier in the week to draft in versatile defender Akin Odimayo – the 25-year-old free agent saw service at Northampton Town last season.
County, determined to bounce back immediately from a damaging two-nil setback to Cheltenham at Rodney Parade last Saturday, were keeping strategy tight coming into this clash, but keeper Jordan Wright is expected to maintain his place in a line-up which might see a shake up in midfield and attack, on-loan Ben Lloyd and ex-Barrow striker Gerard Garner coming into the mix.
Halloween beckons within the week, but Newport perceive omens are bright against the Sulphurites, an outfit they have hammered twice four-one at their Harrogate lair in recent years
Yet Simon Weaver’s troops can boast a wealth of experience through their spine – keeper James Belshaw, defenders Warren Burrell, Anthony O’Connell and 109-goal raider Jack Maldoon, now 36, racking up around 1,700 games between them.
Town, though, are anxiously looking over at the white water which roar blow them – Newport will seek to inflict further damage on hosts who have lost their last three games, shipping eight goals in the process.