Statistically, twelve table placings and a full forty-two points separate Ponty and Llandovery, but in reality a much closer encounter can be predicted when the two teams come face to face at the Church Bank Fields.
The Drovers only lost out at Neath by a single point on their last outing, and an earlier contest between them and Pontypridd, in the British & Irish Cup back in October, was a keenly fought battle. Ponty took the honours that day by 18pts to 28, but only after staging a second half rally.
Pontypridd currently have no fewer than twelve players sidelined through injury, the latest casualties being lock Chris Martenko, with a recurrence of a back problem, and flanker Jake Thomas with a bruised shoulder.
Only four changes, one positional, are made from the starting line up which gained a home win over Newport last Saturday, with Kristian Dacey starting at hooker, Craig Locke and Ryan Savage returning in the second row and skipper Chris Dicomidis slotting back in at no 8.
Prop Stuart Williams returns from injury to the bench, where hooker Tom Hetheringtonshows his versatility by providing cover for the back row.
The Pontypridd team selected to face Llandovery is as follows:
15.Gareth Wyatt. 14.Lewis Williams. 13.Adam Thomas. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Owen Williams. 10.Dean Gunter. 9.Lewis Jones. 1.Lewis Smout. 2.Kristian Dacey. 3.Ken Knaggs. 4.Craig Locke. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Ed Siggery. 7.Darren Waters. 8.Chris Dicomidis – cpt.
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Subs: Kristian Baller; Simon Humberstone; Tom Hetherington; Huw Dowden; Cory Hill; WillGriff John; Stuart Williams.
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