Both Newport and Ponty have identical playing records this season – played eight, won six, lost two – but a tally of five bonus points accumulated by the Gwent team has hoisted them two positions above their opponents, to third in the table.
The aim for Pontypridd will be to secure an impressive fifth successive league win, but they will have to pull out all the stops to do so at the traditionally difficult venue of Rodney Parade. Newport meanwhile will have some familiar faces amongst their ranks, in coaches Jonny Bryant and Sven Cronk, and players Richard Field, Richard Fussell and Tom Riley – all former Ponty favourites.
Pontypridd have had to contend with a run of injuries in the build up to the big game, with the possibility of requesting a postponement at one stage due to a lack of front row cover.
Props Stuart Williams and Sam Hobbs are both sidelined with elbow and knee injuries respectively, and with Ryan Harford currently serving a suspension and hooker Rhys Williams away on Blues under 20s duty. Prop Richard Cornock has been drafted in on permit from Cardiff RFC to provide front row cover.
Other injury absentees amongst the Ponty squad are outside half Gareth McCarthy and scrum half Rhys Downes, both with hamstring strains, winger Chris Clayton with a broken wrist, lock Chris Martenko with a twisted ankle and flanker Geraint Lewis with a bruised shoulder.
Owen Williams is recalled on the wing, with Owen Cotton and Huw Dowden stepping up at prop and hooker respectively and Rhys Lloyd back in at blindside flanker.
Pontypridd: 15.Matt Hutchings. 14.Owen Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Adam Thomas. 11.Lewis Williams. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Andrew Jenkins; 1.Owen Cotton. 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Pat Palmer. 4.Ryan Savage. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Rhys Lloyd. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Nathan Strong (capt)
Subs: Kristian Baller; Lawrence Price; Mike Davies; Richard Cornock; Leighton Davies; Grant Harrington; Kristian Dacey.
