After two home wins over Aberavon and Carmarthen in the last week, Ponty have now forged 16 points clear at the top of the Premiership table.
Llanelli are lurking behind in fifth position but with two games in hand, they are in a strong position to reach the play-off stages at the end of the season.
Wednesday’s 30-15 win over Carmarthen Quins saw Pontypridd run in four tries though they left a number of scores out on the pitch, much to the frustration of the players and coaching staff. And although they have a healthy points advantage over the chasing pack, team manager Richard Langmead says it will count for little on Saturday.
“The league table looks good from a Pontypridd point of view but there will be no complacency creeping into our mindset,” he said.
“We simply have to go out and win every game that comes up. It’s the old sporting cliché but we take one game at a time and aim to get the maximum return from each one.
“We have five league fixtures remaining, each one a very tough prospect, starting with the away trip to Llanelli on Saturday.”
Ruled out for Ponty is winger Chris Clayton who was carried off from the midweek win over Carmarthen with an ankle injury. Taking over the number 14 shirt will be Owen Williams who makes his 100th appearance for the club.
Centre Tom Pascoe and prop Bradley Thyer make a return to club duties after being released from the Wales U20 squad with the latter covering the hooker position from the bench due to the continued injury absence of Darran Harris and Jack Dando.
Chris Dicomidis takes over as captain from Wayne O’Connor who drops to the bench while Simon Humberstone, named Principality Premiership player of the week, starts at 10 in place of Dai Flanagan.
Llanelli: 15 Steffan Evans 14 Justin James 13 Dion Jones 12 Johnny Lewis 11 Kyle Evans 10 Diggy Bird 9 Ryan Jones, 1 Rhys Thomas 2 Craig Hawkins 3 Aled Hopkins 4 Adam Powell (C) 5 Nathan White6 Lewis Rawlins 7 Duane Eager 8 Stuart Leach.
Replacements: Shaun Hopkins, Kirby Myhill, Jamie Kaijaks, Ed Price, Tom Wilson, Gareth Walters, Niall Martin, Craig Cross.
Pontypridd: 15 Gareth Wyatt 14 Owen Williams 13 Dafydd Lockyer 12 Tom Pascoe 11 Matthew Nuthall 10 Simon Humberstone 9 Lloyd Williams,1 Stuart Williams 2 Huw Dowden 3 Keiron Jenkins 4 Craig Locke 5 Chris Dicomidis (C) 6 Jake Thomas 7 Tom Hetherington 8 Dan Godfrey.
Replacements: Carl Thomas, Dai Flanagan, Gavin Dacey, Bradley Thyer, Ed Siggery, Wayne O’Connor, Chris Phillips, Scott Roberts.
