The Wizards ended a run of four straight defeats against Ebbw Vale last time, but the Ravens are on the march following back-to-back wins that have finally moved them off the bottom of the Indigo Group Premiership table.
Given it took a last gasp penalty from Aled Thomas to earn Aberavon a win at the Brewery Field in the opening game of the season it looks like being a tight tussle that could go either way.
“Aberavon against Neath has been a huge Boxing Day fixture in the past. Things have changed now, but playing Bridgend will still be a massive clash,” said Wizards head coach Jason Hyatt.
“They are an improving side and have won their last two to move off the bottom. The Christmas game at Talbot Athletic Ground is always massive and it’s a game where we have to deliver for our home supporters.
“We always get a big crowd in on Boxing Day and I’m sure it will be the same again this year. Bridgend are certainly on the up. They had a bad start to the season, but we know exactly what they will bring. They are a very close local rival and in many ways it could be a bigger game than playing against Neath.”
Aberavon are still without key man Joe Tomalin-Reeves, who remains suspended after being cited in the game with Llanelli. Wing Jay Baker returned to action for Aberavon against Ebbw after a stint playing for Manly Marlins in Australia where he scored nine tries in 11 games, but the former Merthyr and Ospreys speedster is still unsure about where his long-term future lies.
“We’re taking things slowly with Jay. He’s back from Australia and we all know his quality,” said Hyatt. “He was our top carrier against Ebbw and we’ll take it game by game with him. We’ll see what happens, but he has links to Aberavon and if he were to be around long term, we would certainly look at the situation.”
Ravens back row man Rob Dudley Jones is returning to one of his former clubs and will be hoping his new team can add to their recent run of victories over Ebbw Vale (18-15) and Swansea (17-3).
Games between these two teams are rarely boring affairs, as the opening clash of this campaign proved. Last season it was Aberavon who took the spoils at the Talbot Athletic Ground in dramatic fashion with a last minute score from hooker Luke Davies, while an injury time drop goal from Jamie Murphy decided the game in the Ravens favour at the Brewery Field.
Murphy is back in the side at full back after recovering from illness, while Stuart Floyd Ellis also comes back into the side to partner skipper Nathan Edwards in the centre. Dudley Jones is joined by another former Wizard, Ryan Hall, in the back row.
Aberavon: Joe Gage; Frankie Jones, Chay Smith, Rheon James, Stef Andrews; Aled Thomas, David Pritchard; Rowan Jenkins, Ieaun Davies, Geraint James, Ben Thomas, Rhodri Hughes, Lee Purnell (captain), Ashton Evans, Lloyd Evans
Reps: James Garland, Chris Banfield, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Cameron Lewis, Rhys Thomas, Andrew Waite, Shay Smallman, Chris Davies
Bridgend: Jamie Murphy; Andrew Evans, Stuart Floyd Ellis, Nathan Edwards (captain), Caine Woolerton; Jacob Chilcott, Connor Tantum; Rhodri Apsee, Gareth Harvey, Adam Court, Ben Jones, James Little, Rob Dudley Jones, Joe Grabham, Ryan Hall
Reps: Garin Lloyd, Rhys Forse, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Morgan Strong, Travis Huntley, Chris Williams, Brad Roderick
