Second placed Cardiff will be looking to keep pace with leaders Neath when they travel to face old rivals Bridgend. The Blue and Blacks have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the campaign but to continue that run they must overturn a series of results which has seen them lose in each of their last four visits to the Brewery Field.
Cardiff give a senior debut to young centre Nathan Rees, a Blues U20 player from Ystrad Rhondda while Roger Davies and Adam Whitney also feature against their former club. Bridgend remain pointless at the foot of the table but will be desperate to build on a friendly win against Glamorgan County in the break to kick-start their season.
Neath will be taking nothing for granted when they entertain Ebbw Vale at the Gnoll after narrowly surviving a thorough examination at Maesteg side last time out. The champions finally came through that tie 23-16 but will have to raise their game to continue their run this week, after amazingly drawing both of last season’s fixtures with Ebbw, 23-23. The Steelmen eventually finished as runners-up to Neath last year, but will fancy their chances this weekend after winning away at Aberavon in their last game.
Cross Keys, who pulled-off the result of the round two-weeks ago by stunning Pontypridd at Sardis Road, welcome Llandovery to Pandy Park and will be hoping to regain the momentum from that game against a visiting team who are without a win since the opening day of the season.
Ponty in turn will be keen to resurrect their season following that loss at the Talbot Athletic Ground when they travel to Aberavon for a first encounter with ex-head coach Simon King. Ponty welcome back Chris Clayton who has recovered ahead of schedule form a knee injury but will be without Dai Flanagan who is away on regional duty while there will be no sentiment from King and his assistant coach Nicky Lloyd, another former Pontypridd player, who will be out to compound the misery on their former team.
Elsewhere, Glamorgan Wanderers, fresh from victory over Bedwas in the last round of matches play host to third placed Llanelli at the Memorial Ground while Bedwas themselves are at home to Swansea.
The final tie of the round sees Maesteg, who will be buoyed despite their near miss against Neath, go to Rodney Parade to face an up and down Newport side. The Black and Ambers did record an away win at Swansea last time out though and will be keen to add to that victory to maintain their climb up the league table.
