The Pembrokeshire side will at least go into the game against last season’s beaten finalists on the back of a win. Their 37-14 triumph at Penclawdd last month was only their second win of the season in Division 1 West and hauled them to within five points, with a game in hand, of bottom but one Tycroes.
They stunned reigning champions Penallta in the last round, beating them 12-7 at home, having already dispensed with Tondu (27-25), Blackwood (walk-over) and Llanybydder (58-16) in their earlier ties.
Ystalyfera have technically not lost a cup game since they were beaten 28-14 by Rumney in the third round in the 2015-16 season. Last season they won six game en route to the final at the Principality Stadium, where they drew 16-16 with Penallta, but lost the title on try count.
This season they have conceded only one try in four matches as they attempt to stay on course to join Penallta as the only clubs to make it through to back-to-back finals. Their record to date in the tournament this season has seen them beat Cwmavon (38-0), Llandudo (16-3), Bonymaen (8-5) and Maesteg (30-3).
Division 1 North leaders Nant Conwy will be flying the flag for North Wales when they host unbeaten Maesteg Quins. The Quins have a perfect record of 12 wins out of 12 in Division 1 West Central and are currently five points clear at the top.
They have beaten local rivals Kenfig Hill (25-14), Pontypool United (14-10) and Treorchy (32-8) to reach the last eight. All three Plate victories, making it 15 wins in a row in WRU tournaments, came at home, so the long trek north will be their first on the road.
Nant Conwy lost 18-13 to Penallta in the semi-finals last season in a game that was a repeat of their 2012 final clash with the Pitmen. Their only defeat this season came at Ruthin on 23 September, when they were pipped 16-15.
The top two teams in Division 1 East Central, Ystrad Rhondda and Glamorgan Wanderers, will both clash with sides from Division 1 East. The Wanderers will host Brynmawr, who hold a seven point cushion at the top of the East division table with only one defeat, while Ystrad, top of the pile in East Central by a single point, travel to Nelson, currently sitting in fifth in the East.
WRU National Plate Quarter-Finals
Crymych v Ystalyfera
Glamorgan Wanderers v Brynmawr
Nant Conwy v Maesteg Quins
Nelson v Ystrad Rhondda (17:30 KO, Ystrad Mynach)
