“It’s everything to play for. A couple of losses in this seven game league can make a big difference at the end. Our momentum is good, but we must maintain that especially at home,” said Davies.
“Ponty will be a challenge, but we had to go to them last season and wrestle the title from them and we did. They will be keen to make a statement tonight and put one over us. They are a quality side and play some attractive rugby.
“We are hoping to hold onto the title, though. It was a huge achievement last season, but a lot of teams have raised their game, especially the new teams like RGC 1404 and Merthyr. But one win in this league can see you go to the top quickly.”.
The Steelmen sit second in the standings level on points with the Valley Commandos who have played one game less. Ebbw lost their opening match to Bedwas, but have bounced back with two wins against Aberavon and Carmarthen Quins.
Ponty thumped Davies’ side 41-25 at Sardis Road when the two teams last played in the league on October 25.
But Paul John’s team have their eyes firmly set on a league and cup double after they made the dream start to life in the newly formed top tier of Welsh rugby with two bonus-point wins from two. Ponty will play Cross Keys in the semi-finals of the WRU National Cup next weekend.
John, however, has seen his squad been hit with a number of injuries. Chris Clayton and Jake Thomas are recovering from knee ligament injuries with Dan Godfrey and Owen Sheppeared also missing out with neck problems.
Three players have been drafted in on permit; hooker Ethan Coombes from Beddau, prop Keelan Marney from Glynneath and Aberdare flanker Lewis Young. Ebbw will be looking to exploit their strong back row with Ronny Kynes partnering Lance Randall and Newport Gwent Dragons star Harri Keddie.
Merthyr have made 13 changes from the side that were pipped by Carmarthen Quins in the semi-final of the Foster’s Challenge Cup earlier in the week for their vital home clash in Tier 1 against Llandovery.
The Ironmen were convincing 41-17 winners at Church Banks in November and will be looking to keep in touch with the leaders as the race for play-off places heats up. Wales international lock Lou Reed is included alongside skipper Craig Locke and they will pack down behind a hugely experienced front row in Nathan Trevett, Rhys Williams, Garry Powell.
The last time Llandovery played at Merthyr was back in 2002, when they won 51-0. With a two point gap between themselves and their hosts they can ill afford to lose.
RGC 1404 will be aiming to return to winning ways in the Premiership after a two-game winless patch. The Gogs succumbed to losses against Aberavon, 28-14 and Llandovery 20-10 last month. But they play a Bedwas side who are also in need of a win after they took a 40-20 home hammering to Merthyr.
FIXTURES
Tier 1
17 March
Ebbw Vale v Pontypridd
18 March
Merthyr v Llandovery
RGC 1404 v Bedwas
TEAMS
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Chris Levesley, Nathan Preece, Dominic Franchi, James Lewis; Joshua Lewis, Robert Lewis; Ian George, Joe Franchi, Gethin Robinson; Damien Hudd (captain), Joe Bartlett; Lance Randall, Ronny Kynes, Harri Keddie
Reps: Jonny Bowen, Rob Sevenoaks, Ross Jones, Dawid Rubasniak, Michael Preece, Dai Jones, Dai Langdon, Will Talbot-Davies
Pontypridd: Gary Williams; Joe Davies, Bradley Coombes, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), Dale Stuckey; Ceri Sweeney, Wayne Evans; Sam May, Liam Belcher, Mitch Auger; Lee Evans, Chris Dicomidis; Dafi Davies, Rhys Shellard, Hemi Barnes.
Reps: Joel Raikes, Callum Hall, Lewis K Williams, Ethan Coombes, Lewis Young, Peter Sidoli, Joe Popple, Keelan Marney
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis; Richard Carter, Martyn Thomas, Arron Pinches, Kyle Evans; Gareth Davies, Justin James; Nathan Trevett, Rhys Williams, Garry Powell, Lou Reed, Craig Locke (captain), Tom Daley, Osian Davies, Phil Rees
Reps: James Howe, S Evans, Louis Jones, Ben Murphy, Nick White, Rhys Downes, Dean Gunter, Gavin Dacey
RGC 1404: Afon Bagshaw; Sam Jones, Tom Hughes, Tiaan Loots, Rhys Wiliams; Jacob Botica, Alex Schwarz; Phil John, Rhys Williams, Ross Davies; Henri Williams, Andrew Williams (captain), Mei Parry, Josh Leach, Huw Worthington.
Reps: George Roberts, Jordon Scott, Joe Simpson, Robin Williams, Will Bryan, Efan Jones, Carwyn ap Myrddin, Aron Evans.
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Patric Lewis, Ross Wardle, Mike Callow, Matthew John; Richard Powell, Nicky Griffiths (captain); Dan Preece, Alun Rees, Matthew Petit; Geraint Edmunds, Joe Davies; James Richards, George Lee, Robson Blake.
Reps: Brynley Toms Rhys Hutcherson, Chris Budgen, Tom Bell, Andrew Waite, Tom Rowlands, James Dixon, Adam Williams.
In Tier 2, Cardiff will be looking to add to their Llanelli 28-14 win at Parc y Scarlets earlier in the season when they entertain Llanelli at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday (12:00 kick-off) in what is their last home game in the Principality Premiership.
Gareth Thompson returns to the outside half berth with Codey Rees taking his position at full back. Lloyd Chalke joins Will Rees Hole in the centre, Liam Free and Oli Smyth the others coming in.
Former Scarlets Kirby Myhill will make his Cardiff debut at hooker against a number of his former clubmates, while American international Cam Dolan comes in at No 8. He scored two tries in the win at Llanelli earlier in the season.
Neither side has won a game in Tier 2 to date and both teams were beaten at home in the WRU National Cup by Pontypool. Whoever wins will condemn the other team to the bottom spot in the table.
They are calling it ‘High Noon’ at The Gnoll for Newport’s visit to face Neath in a key match. The home side will been buoyed by their 41-36 friendly win over arch-rivals Aberavon last time out and by the news that top scorer Ed Howley is fit to resume to try to add to the 217 points he has already scored this season.
Howley returns at full back as one of five changes to the team that beat the Wizards. Former Wales centre Gavin Evans, hooker Sion Crocker, lock Jonny Griffiths and back-rower Leon Ward all start.
“Newport are always a formidable side and a win will put the winners firmly in the frame for a play-off place. We want to give our loyal supporters that reward,” said Neath skipper Jordan Collier.
“Our squad is stretched with just the 23 available but, as we showed against Aberavon last week, we’ve got some good players to come off the bench when necessary and, if we all play well enough, we can do it.”
Newport will head to The Gnoll after a three-week break knowing that a victory will put them in a great position to challenge for the top spot. Newport have won the last three meetings between the two sides.
FIXTURES
Tier 2
18 March
Cardiff v Llanelli
Neath v Newport
TEAMS
Cardiff: Codey Rees; James Beal, Lloyd Chalke, Will Rees Hole, Oli Smyth; Gareth Thompson, Liam Free; Rob Lewis, Kirby Myhill, Ben Leung, Jack Davies, James Murphy, Ben Thomas, Jordan Viggers, Cam Dolan
Reps: Ryan Spriggs, Gavin Nash, Aled Rees, Joe Tomlinson, Luke Crocker, Mike Hale, Diggy Bird, Harry Griffiths / Cameron Gibbon
Llanelli: Ashley Evans; Dion Jones, Nathan Edwards, Billy McBryde, Ryan Davies; Ioan Hughes, Declan Smith; Rhys Fawcett, Craig Thomas, Tom Kaijaks, Adam Powell (captain), Ben Davies, Trystan Lloyd, Josh Macleod, Jack Condy
Reps: Rhys Thomas, Richard Bassett, Simon Gardiner, Chris Long, Lloyd Pike, Scott Maynard, Matthew Owen, Kalum Evans
Neath: Ed Howley; Aaron Grabham, Max Llewellyn, Gavin Evans, Alec Jenkins; Dan Guarneri, Chris Morgans; Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Geraint James; Rhys Jones, Jonny Griffiths, Charlie Davies, Leon Ward, Jordan Collier (captain)
Reps: Ifan Phillips, Neil White, Callum Jones, Lyndon Bateman, Aled Morris, Josh Guy, Iwan Evans, Rory Morgan-Williams
Newport: Llywarch Ap Myrddin; Elliot Frewen, Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Jon Morris; Geraint O’Driscoll, Ryan James; Matt Prosser, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Adam Brown (captain), Dan Partridge, Rhodri Jones, Kyle Tayler, Rhys Jenkins
Reps: Evan Whitson, Keagan Bale, Tom Piper, Dan Mock, Reuben Tucker, Owen Davies, Haydn Palmer, Tom Riley
