Having hit their first target for the season of guaranteeing a top four finish thanks to a 41-8 home win over Aberavon last weekend, there is still a hint of a possibility that The Steelmen could bag a home semi-final.
That would mean winning the game against the Quins and next week’s home Gwent derby aginst Pontypool with bonus-points and then hoping reigning champions Llandovery don’t pick up any points from their three remaining fixtures.
That is unlikely to happen – Llandovery won the Premiership Cup at Principality Stadium last weekend – but Strange believes his squad is good enough to beat any of the other teams in the top four at present.
“We’ll be resting a few players for the game in Carmarthen, but we certainly won’t be taking anything for granted. I’ve told the players not to read anything into the Quins’ result at the Arms Park,” said Strange.
“It is always a tough game down there and with the game being on TV they’ll expect a big reaction after the Cardiff result. There is still an outside chance of us getting a home semi-final, but I’m just so pleased we have made the top four.
“That was our goal from the start of the season, and we’ve beaten Newport and Llandovery once and done the double over Cardiff in the league. It is all about timing when you come into play-offs at the end of any season.
“Anything can happen in a semi-final – everyone starts again when you reach the play-offs. We finished third in 2015 and lost in the final to Pontypridd. We did the same the next season and then beat Ponty at Sardis Road.
“We’ve got a big game against Pontypool next week to look forward to and then we have two weeks to prepare for whoever we will meet in the semis.”
The big home win over Aberavon came just at the right time for Strange after a disappointing 43-7 Cup semi-final defeat against Llandovery and their 31-25 loss at home to table-topping Newport. Now he wants to keep his team on track for a strong finish to the season.
“It’s all on the day from here on in and we will have learned a good few lessons from the cup defeat against Llandovery,” he added.
