Drovers head coach Euros Evans has been able to pick from a full-strength squad, while Steve Law’s hands have been tied somewhat by injuries and unavailability. There will be no Dewi Cross or Morgan Allen for the Blue & Blacks, while Joey Tomlinson is the latest senior pro to join the injury list.
Tomlinson swallowed his tongue after a head collision in last weekend’s home win over Bridgend and had to attend hospital. He was later given the all-clear and discharged but will be out of action for a while.
Loose head prop Cam Tyler-Grocott will make his second start of the season in the front row for Cardiff. He scored a try in the recent win over Neath and is a local teenager who was playing in the Cardiff U18 team this time last year.
Johan Hoogendoorn makes his first start in the second row after making the step up from Championship East side St Peter’s. Other local products, Connor Vaughan and Ieuan Prince, appear among the replacements.
It was 31-12 to the Drovers when the two sides met at Church Bank earlier in the season and the last meeting at the Arms Park was the Indigo Premiership play-off final. Llandovery won that game 24-8 to take the title for the first time.
A lot has changed since then, although Llandovery will field a side that contains 11 of the starting XV from that famous day in May. Cardiff, on the other hand, will only have seven, although head coach Law can point to the fact that three of his matchday squad that day are now in the Wales Six Nations squad – Cam Winnett, Mackenzie Martin and Evan Lloyd, while Lucas de la Rua is currently with Wales U20.
Only Ebbw Vale have thus far managed to lower the Llandovery colours this season as they have stayed on course for a possible league and cup double. They also have three players away on duty with Wales U20 in threequarters Macs Page and Gabe McDonald, as well as hooker Harri Thomas
Cardiff have a 10 point cushion over fifth placed Pontypridd, but face a trio of away games after tonight’s clash at Pontypool, Newport and Aberavon. If things stay the same, they could face another trip to Church Bank in the play-offs.
Cardiff: Jacob Lloyd; Joe Goodchild, Arron Pinches, Harrison James, Kodie Stone; Arwel Robson, Jamie Hill; Cam Grocott, Alun Rees, Freddie Barnes, Johan Hoogendoorn, Ethan Phillips, Sean Moore, Ioan Pascoe, Nathan Hudd
Reps: Connah Vaughan, Eddie Drake, Christian Brooke, Ieuan Pring, Sam Newton, Joe Williams, Tom Hughes, James Beal
Llandovery: Harri Doel, Jac Davies, Adam Warren, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees; Jamie Hughes, Taylor Davies, Brian Watkins, Jac Jones (captain), Ed Scragg, Osian Davies, Stuart Worrall, Joseff Powell
Reps: Josh Morse, Craig Thomas, Llyr Green, Nathan Hart, Luca Giannini, Ilan Phillips, Jack Maynard, Dafydd Land
