The former Wales international is set to skipper a side that and that will be finalised after several fitness tests close to kick-off.
One player poised to sit out the Welsh Premiership encounter is centre James Storey, who is nursing a bruised rib but Allan Bateman is likely to make his last appearance for the club.
Newport stars including captain Simon Raiwalui, Shane Howarth. Matt Mostyn and Steve Ojomoh played their last matches of the season for the Black and Ambers in the Rodney Parade victory over neighbours Ebbw Vale, and are not included in the side.
Springbok Percy Montgomery, who plays for the Barbarians, is also absent allowing Michael Hook to be drafted in from local rugby at full-back.
Props David Pattison and Rhys Thomas are both under-21 players while in the absence of Raiwalui the team will be skippered by Andy Marinos.
Neath: (from) Adrian Durston, AN Other, Dave Tiueti Kevin James/John Leyshon, Sean Marsden, Allan Bateman, Shane Williams, Matthew Jones, Shaun Connor, Patrick Horgan, Andrew Millward, Paul James, Barry Williams, Cai Griffiths, Duncan Jones, Andy Newman, Lyndon Bateman, Steve Martin, Hywel Jenkins, Simon Peters, Rowland Phillips (capt), Jamie Ringer.
Newport: M Hook; A Cadwallader, N Brew, A Marinos, B Breeze; J Strange, D Llewellyn; D Pattison, J Richards, R Thomas, M Veater, I Gough, A Powell, R Jones, G Gravell.
Replacements: L Nabaro, S Williams, O Tonu’u, C Anthony/R Snow, T R Thomas/P Young, S Raiwalui, M Voyle.
