The teams have enjoyed contrasting fortunes so far this season with Ponty having won 11 of their 12 league games to hold second place in the table on 50 points. Bridgend have won five of 14 games played and trail behind in ninth position on 23 points.
Ponty will be going for the league double over the Ravens, having won a thrilling 45-35 encounter at Sardis Road back in September.
In last season’s contest between the two teams at the Brewery Field, Bridgend edged the verdict with a last gasp victory. Wearing the number 10 shirt for the Ravens that day and instrumental in plotting their success was Dai Flanagan, the outside half now with Ponty and ready to line up against his old team.
Flanagan starts the game for Ponty as one of 10 changes made, positional or in personnel, from the team that secured a home win over Llandovery last time out. Prop Keiron Jenkins and hooker Jack Dando make a welcome return from injury to the match day squad. Scrum half Lloyd Williams is once more drafted in on permit from neighbouring club Treorchy.
Lock Cory Hill is sidelined with ankle ligament damage, whilst centre Adam Thomas and flanker Rhys Shellard are away with Wales Sevens. Centre Tom Pascoe and prop Bradley Thyer are with Wales under 20s.
The Ravens are weakened by Ospreys call ups again. After eight Bridgend boys started against Harlequins in the LV=Cup last weekend, Arthur Ellis and Jamie Murphy are poised for their first RaboDirect PRO12 appearances after being named on the bench for the game against Ulster.
In the pack, Marc Thomas returns from regional duty to partner Ashleigh James and Owen Williams in a strong front row.
Owain Lloyd and Lee Davies combine at second row, with Andrew Waite, Jonothan Vaughan and Tom Morgan making up a physical back row.
Bridgend: 15 Ben Thomas 14 Nathan Edwards 13 Sam Campbell 12 Steve Winn 11 Glen Lewis 10 Lewis Williams 9 Ben Ellis, 1 Marc Thomas 2 Ashleigh James 3 Owen Williams 4 Owian Lloyd 5 Lee Davies 6 Andrew Waite 7 Jonothan Vaughan (c) 8 Tom Morgan.
Replacements: Chris Francis, Gary Carpenter, Jonothan Thomas, Scott Hicks, Lloyd Evans, Glenn Holloway, Rhys Thomas, Nick Hopson.
Pontypridd: 15 Geraint Walsh 14 Chris Clayton 13 Gavin Dacey 12 Dafydd Lockyer 11 Matthew Nuthall 10 Dai Flanagan 9 Lloyd Williams, 1 Chris Phillips 2 Huw Dowden 3 Keiron Jenkins 4 Craig Locke 5 Chris Dicomidis (c) 6 Ed Siggery 7 Wayne O’Connor 8 Jake Thomas.
Replacements: Gareth James, Simon Humberstone, Owen Williams, Jack Dando, Tom Hetherington, Jordan Sieniawski, Scott Roberts, Stuart Williams.
