Newport County badly need a big run to fire up their fading League Two play-off hopes.

They entertain local rivals Forest Green Rovers at Rodney Parade having failed to win in their last eight matches.

County have drawn their last two fixtures 0-0 and went through February without scoring a goal. Padraig Amond was their last scorer during a 3-1 defeat at Lincoln City – and Newport have played 600 minutes of football since then.

Midfield player Joss Labadie is ruled out by suspension, while Matty Dolan and Amond were doubts.

Dolan sustained a broken nose during a training ground collision with Dan Butler, while Amond has had an abscess.

Both have been passed fit by County medical staff, but Scott Bennett is ruled out by a hamstring injury with Mark O’Brien likely to return.

“Podge and Dolan are OK,” said manager Michael Flynn. “It’s only Scot and Joss missing.

“Everybody else is fit and available, which is great news at this stage of the season.

“We want to win every game we play but we don’t have a divine right.

“We have to earn the points and this will be a tough game. Forest Green have changed their style a bit recently and they’re picking up results.

“They still need wins to stay in the league so they will be tough opponents.”

County aim to complete a League Two double against Forest Green, having won 4-0 at the New Lawn earlier this season.

County dropped to 14th in League Two after their match against Accrington Stanley was postponed and they are  but nine points off the top seven with a game in hand.

Rovers, battling to stay clear of relegation danger, include Newport-born striker Christian Doidge.

They are 19th and manager Mark Cooper, who added 10 new signings to his squad in January, says: “We’ve worked on how to counter Newport’s strengths.

“You have to match Newport physically. They are a powerful team.

“County have quality in good areas and put a lot of balls into the box. We have to stand up to that.”