After reaching the SWALEC Cup final with a narrow win over Carmarthen Quins last weekend and having already secured top place in the Principality Premiership, they now face the second leg of a quick fire double header against the Blue and Blacks.
The two teams met just seven days ago at the Arms Park with Pontypridd running out impressive victors with a 35-7 win. The win secured top place for Dale McIntosh’s side and ahead of tonight’s game, they are a full 48 points clear of Cardiff, although Martyn Fowler’s men do have a game in hand.
With such a heavy run of fixtures – Pontypridd travel to Bedwas on Saturday, there are only three players who retain their place from Saturday’s cup semi-final.
McIntosh’s policy seems to be that a change is as good as a rest and young second rower Cory Hill takes over the captaincy. Simon Humberstone comes in for Dai Flanagan at fly-half to partner young scrum half Joel Raikes at half back.
The likes of Chris Dicomidis and Dan Godfrey, who both played starring roles against Carmarthen Quins with the latter being named man of the match, drop out of the squad altogether.
For Cardiff, they will be looking to avoid two quick defeats to Pontypridd but know they will face a tough ask at the House of Pain.
Fowler has Wales sevens man Richard Smith available to start at centre and former Cardiff University captain Jake Cooper-Woolley at prop.
Pontypridd: 15 Gareth Wyatt 14 Chris Clayton 13 Tom Pascoe 12 Gary Williams 11 Owen Williams 10 Simon Humberstone 9 Joel Raikes, 1 Stuart Williams 2 Jack Dando 3 Bradley Thyer 4 Craig Locke 5 Cory Hill (c) 6 Jake Thomas 7 Tom Hetherington 8 Owen Sheppeard.
Replacements: Lloyd Williams, Dai Flanagan, Adam Thomas, Huw Dowden, Wayne O’Connor, Jordan Sieniawski, Scott Roberts, Pat Palmer.
Cardiff: 15 Jamie Davies 14 Shuan Powell 13 Richard Smith 12 Max Woodward 11 Steve Cullen 10 James Thomas 9 Garyn Lucas, 1 Nathan Trevett 2 Ethan Lewis 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley 4 Nick White 5 Macauley Cook 6 Reuben Tucker 7 Thomas Yong 8 Ben Roach.
Replacements: Lewis Smout, Aaron Fowler, Ryan Harford, Matthew Screech, James Murphy, Sion Hopkins, Darren Ryan, Jack Phillips.
