The draw has pitted the current Principality Premiership leaders Pontypridd against last season’s champions Neath who are currently in second place – just one point behind and with a game in hand following Ponty’s 3-6 demise at Carmarthen Quins on Tuesday.
At the same time, Neath were battling out a 15-12 British & Irish Cup victory at St. Helen’s against Swansea but it is likely to be a much-changed Neath XV which takes the field at Sardis Road.
Neath make 11 changes, three positional, from the side that started at Swansea with captain Gareth Gravell back after missing the last two games.
“Already this week we have achieved wins against Bedwas and Swansea but this is our biggest test yet. Although we won at St. Helen’s, the performance was well below what we expected from a Neath team,” said Neath head coach Patrick Horgan.
“We will need to be back to our best on Saturday – no doubt it will be a charged up environment at Pontypridd and that should be good for our boys. There was a very poor turn-out at Swansea and consequently little atmosphere – it will be very different on Saturday and that can only be good for the Game.”
The Pontypridd team:
Gareth Wyatt Chris Clayton Adam Thomas Dafydd Lockyer Owen Williams Simon Humberstone Lewis Jones. Ken Knaggs, Kristian Dacey, Ryan Harford, Cory Hill, Ryan Savage, Ed Siggery, Darren Waters Chris Dicomidis.
Replacements: Kristian Baller; Dean Gunter; Gavin Dacey; Tom Hetherington; Wayne O’Connor; Craig Locke; Stuart Williams.
Neath From :-
A.Jenkins; K.James, G.McCarthy, A.Bramwell, G.Evans; J.Thomas, C.Morgans; N.Downs, G.Price, R.Davies; E.Evans, P.Sidoli; G.Gravell (captain) L.Evans, E.Uzoigwe Replacements : To be Confirmed
