The Steelmen start with a trip to SSE Swalec Cup semi-finalist Carmarthen Quins this weekend and then make the short trip to Cross Keys on Tuesday night. Ebbw Vale lead Newport and Aberavon by two points, but have played two games more than the Black & Ambers.
Wales Under 20 Grand Slam No 8 Harrison Keddie is named among the replacements for the Steelmen for the trip to Carmarthen. The Quins have won 10 of the 15 league meetings between the two teams, but will go into the game as underdogs.
Newport travel to Llandovery for a game between the second and fifth placed teams. There are only three points separating the two clubs, although the Drovers have played a game more.
The Newport coaches have rung the changes from the side that pipped Cross Keys last weekend and will be aware they have to host Carmarthen Quins on Tuesday night at Rodney Parade. Matt Prosser and Will Evans come into the front row and Craig Attwell starts at openside flanker.
Owen Davies and Matt O’Brien are paired at half-back with Paul King playing alongside Wes Cunliffe at outside centre. Newport beat Llandovery 28-20 in the home fixture earlier in the season.
The Drovers include Wales Under 20 Grand Slam hooker Dafydd Hughes in their front row and have former Dragons and Newport lock Bryn Griffiths among their replacements.
Reigning champions Pontypridd will be hoping for better conditions than they experienced last weekend at Sardis Road when they ground out a 7-6 SSE Swalec Cup win over Merthyr in a mudbath. They host bottom of the table Neath, who pushed Aberavo all the way at the Talbot Athletic Ground last weekend before going down to a 24-18 defeat.
The Wizards host Cross Keys in another vital battle in the race for play-off places, while Cardiff entertain Bridgend. On Sunday, Foster’s Challenge Cup finalists Bedwas visit Llanelli.
Principality Premiership Fixtures
2 April 2016
Aberavon v Cross Keys
Cardiff v Bridgend
Carmarthen Q v Ebbw Vale
Llandovery v Newport
Pontypridd v Neath
3 April 2016
Llanelli v Bedwas
5 April 2016
Cross Keys v Ebbw Vale
Newport v Carmarthen Quins
