The Gwent derby will at least set a target for Ebbw Vale in Pool B when they complete their pool campaign at Swansea on Saturday afternoon. The Steelmen currently lead Newport by four points and Pooler by five.
The pool winners will go through to the final and that means whoever wins at Newport Stadium will need to be perfect. Both sides need six points from the game to set Ebbw any real target.
“We’ll be picking our strongest side for what is a huge fixture against Newport. It is a big Gwent derby and it deserves full strength teams,” he added.
“Realistically, we need to pick up six points and hope Ebbw Vale don’t get anything out of their game at Swansea. We’ll certainly be giving it a go.”
Jason Strange’s Ebbw side have lost only three times in 16 games to date this season and are in the hunt for a league and cup double having been knocked out at the semi-final stage in both competitions last season.
They have won all three cup games and have already beaten Swansea 40-20 at St Helen’s this season. The Whites have had a tough season and are currently propping up the SRC Trophy table and have won once in their three cup ties to date.
While The Steelmen will be heavy favourites to continue their winning run and reach the inaugural SRC Cup final, Llandovery, who completed the Premiership league and cup double last season, should be strong enough to pick up the single point they need at Aberavon to guarantee safe passage into the final.
The Drovers are currently six points clear of RGC at the top of the Pool A table. They may have been beaten 52-19 at home by Cardiff in the league last weekend, but they very rarely lose two on the trot.
RGC will have to pick up the full six points at Bridgend tomorrow, and hope the Drovers pick up nothing at the Talbot Athletic Ground, to stand any chance of reaching the final.
