Pooler are top of the table after back-to-back wins over and Swansea and Carmarthen Quins and have two games to go to try to stay ahead of Newport and The Steelmen in a bid to reach the final.
To do that they will know they must beat Ebbw, who have only played one game to date – a 24-7 win over Carmarthen Quins. Newport, meanwhile, host the Quins at Newport Stadium in another key battle to see who reaches the final.
There are five teams in each pool and each club plays the others once. Pooler finish with a trip to Newport on 14 March, while the Black & Ambers also face Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park on St David’s Day, 1 March.
Ty Morris’ Newport side got their cup campaign off to a flying start with a big win over Swansea at St Helen’s, where they picked up the full six points from a 52-24 triumph. Jac Lloyd takes over at No 10 for Newport, with Matt O’Brien dropping to the bench, while Dragons’ stalwart Ashton Hewitt continues his comeback with another outing on the wing.
In Pool A, RGC face an acid test at home against last season’s WRU Premiership Cup winners Llandovery. With two big wins under their belt already, the Gogs will know that a win against the Drovers could take them to within touching distance of another cup final appearance.
They famously came to the Principality Stadium in 2017 and beat six-time champions Pontypridd 15-11 to enjoy the greatest day in their history. Having already beaten Llandovery once this season in the league, they will be hoping to do it again.
They have had to battle for both wins to date in the cup, beating Aberavon 54-42 in a game of 13 tries and Cardiff 34-31 at the Arms Park. They beat the Drovers 28-23 in September in the league.
Llandovery got their revenge in the return fixture at Church Bank, winning 32-23, but Euros Evans won’t be taking anything for granted when he leads his team on their long trek north.
Cardiff have lost twice already and will need to play catch up over their last two fixtures to stand any chance of qualifying. They head to the Brewery Field in Bridgend for what will be the 199th game between the two clubs dating all the way back to 1881.
Welsh international Mackenzie Martin will start at No 8 for Cardiff, who have Ysgol Glantaf outside half Lloyd Lucas stepping up to start. Bridgend will be seeking their first home win over Cardiff in eight years.
