The battle for a play-off place in the Indigo Premiership resumes with four clubs vying for the final two places.
Ebbw Vale are all but there and need just a single point from their remaining three fixtures to secure their place in the top four. The Steelmen will be looking to get the job done this afternoon with Aberavon the visitors to Eugene Cross Park.
Then it’s a three-way shoot-out between Cardiff, Pontypool and Merthyr for the remaining play-off place. Two of those sides are in action on Saturday, 6 April Cardiff host Carmarthen Quins at the Arms Park while Pontypool entertain RGC.
Cardiff currently sit in fourth place on 68 points, and know their fate is very much in their own hands ahead of their Quins test. The Blue & Blacks’ one remaining game is then also at home – against Merthyr next Saturday.
“Two games left and all to play for. We have our destiny in our own hands at the moment and nine points from the next two games will see us book a slot in the play-offs,” said Cardiff head coach Steve Law.
“That said, we know it will be a very tough game against the Quins. Three weeks ago, at Carmarthen Park, the Quins pushed us all the way, so we will be taking nothing for granted and know we will need a performance to get what we need out of the game.”
Pontypool and Merthyr both have four regular league fixtures to play and currently sit on 56 and 55 points respectively. Merthyr’s focus this weekend is on the WRU Premiership Cup final showdown with Llandovery.
Pooler, however, are in league action and will be looking to pounce on any slip up from Cardiff.
Leighton Jones’ side are bidding to make it a hat-trick of bonus-point wins to keep up the pressure on Cardiff and face an RGC side who have lost seven of their last eight matches.
Slow starts have often been Pooler’s Achilles’ heel, but prop Marc Thomas says that is something they have been working on.
“That is a habit we are trying to get rid of because we are putting ourselves under a lot of pressure. Last weekend, we were better; Bridgend did score first, but we adapted quickly afterwards,” said Thomas.
“It is something we need to stop doing because at this level you will get punished. We respect every team we play. RGC have had close results and are not a bad side.
“We’ll stick to our basics with our forward play and need to make sure we do what we do well.
Everyone is clear on what our target is, and if we can get another five points then it puts pressure on Cardiff – all we can do is the best that we can and finish as high as possible.”
The other Premiership match sees new leaders Newport heading to Neath for their penultimate league fixture. The Black & Ambers overhauled long-time leaders Llandovery after defeating the Drovers 24-6 at Newport Stadium last week.
That result ended the reigning champions’ 17-game winning run while extended Newport’s own winning streak to 12 matches. Newport have the opportunity to go nine points clear with maximum points at The Gnoll, although Llandovery will have played two games fewer.
