Last weekend Dafydd Lockyer’s team pipped Bedwas to the inaugural Foster’s Challenge Cup crown at Bridgend and then returned to the top of the Principality Premiership table a few days later with a bonus-point win at Cardiff.
Llandovery, meanwhile, went to Bedwas earlier in the week and picked up the four tries they needed to move to within a point of the reigning champions with two games of the regular season left to play.
But the clash in Swansea will be a one-off, with the Drovers seeking to avenge their 36-0 quarter-final defeat at Sardis Road last season. Two years ago they went down 29-27 to Cross Keys in the semi-finals and are seeking to reach their second final.
Their most famous cup day came at the Millennium Stadium in 2007 when they beat Cardiff 20-18 and even though they have lost twice to Ponty in the Premiership this season they feel it could well be third time lucky this weekend.
There could be a Wales Under 20 Grand Slam reunion within the game with Llandovery hooker Dafydd Hughes hoping to pack down against two of his national squad props in Corey Domachoski and Keiron Assiratti, who have both been picked to start in the Ponty pack.
In the other semi-final, Carmarthen Quins will seek to end a run of five successive defeats to Cross Keys and reach their second final at Aberavon’s Talbot Athletic Ground (2.30pm). They went all the way to the Millennium Stadium in 2010 before being beaten 20-8 by arch-rivals Llanelli.
The Quins have fallen agonisingly short in recent semi-finals, going down 22-20 to Bridgend last season and 18-16 to Pontypridd in 2013. Cross Keys, meanwhile, have already accounted for the cup holders, Bridgend, this season and are into their fourth semi-final in five seasons.
They won the title in 2012, beating Pontypridd 32-19, and are still in with a shout of reaching the Premiership play-offs. But head coach Greg Woods wants his side to seize the opportunity that is opening up in the cup this season.
“We’ve won semi-finals before and this is our fourth semi-final in the last five years. If we win it would be a third final for this management team, which would be a great achievement,” said Woods.
“Quins are going to be very strong and the league results don’t matter in a game like this. Like us, they also failed at this stage last season so there are probably very similar conversations being had by them.
“We’ve got to concentrate on what we do well and we’ve got to make sure we play our own game and do everything accurately.”
SSE SWALEC Cup
Carmarthen Quins v Cross Keys at Aberavon
Pontypridd v Llandovery at Swansea
SSE SWALEC Plate
Penallta v Skewen at Llanharan
SSE SWALEC BOWL
Burry Port v Aberdare at Maesteg
Cambrian Welfare v Taffs Well at Risca
