Ponty secured a 23-17 home win over London Scottish on the previous weekend, whilst Connacht went down to defeat away at Bristol by 50-34. It was way back in the 2002-2003 season that the two opponents previously clashed, with the Valley Commandos then recording three wins out of three.
Preserving that 100% record against their Irish provincial adversaries will be the aim for the Pontypridd class of 2014 this coming weekend.
Ponty carry a long list of injury absentees going into the Connacht game, compounded by prop Keiron Jenkins (calf) and back rowers Owen Sheppeard (knee) and Dan Godfrey (hamstring) failing fitness tests this week.
Lock Alex Jones is sidelined with ankle ligament damage incurred during the London Scottish game, whilst wing Alex Webber and scrum half Tomos Williams have returned from Wales Sevens duties carrying injuries.
On the plus side, abrasive second rower Craig Locke is available for selection following a two week suspension, and centre Garyn Smith is back on club duties after playing for Wales Sevens out in Australia. Full back Aled Summerhill and back rower Ellis Jenkins have both recovered from injury and join a squad bolstered by the inclusion of Blues players, scrum half Will Baird and prop Taufa’ao Filise.
Pontypridd: 15 Aled Summerhill 14 Lewis I Williams 13 Gavin Dacey 12 Dafydd Lockyer (Capt) 11 Matthew Nuthall 10 Simon Humberstone 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 James Howe 2 Liam Belcher 3 Taufa’ao Filise 4 Craig Locke 5 Chris Dicomidis 6 Luke Crocker 7.Rhys Shellard 8 Ellis Jenkins.
Subs: 16 Will Baird 17 Lewis K Williams 18 Garyn Smith 19 Aled Morris 20 Jordan Sieniawski 21 Bradley Thyer 22 Chris Phillips.
