Having beaten Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets and Cardiff at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park in their last two games, the National Championship leaders should travel with confidence as they tackle the 2012 cup winners and 2014 runners-up.
Pontypool won the cup for the one and only time in 1983, but they have won all 19 games this season in the league and cup and have turned into the team that nobody wants to meet. Keys were pipped 21-20 by Carmarthen Quins in last year’s semi-finals.
A third Gwent side, Principality Premiership champions Ebbw Vale, host Merthyr. The Steelmen have already lost three times to the Ironmen this season, twice in the Foster’s Challenge Cup and once in the Premiership. They are both in Tier 1 and are due to meet again at Eugene Cross Park on 6 May.
National Cup holders Llandovery face a long trek north to face RGC 1404 at Parc Eirias where they were beaten 28-25 earlier in the season. They gained revenge for that defeat with a 20-10 Tier 1 triumph at Church Bank earlier this month.
Carmarthen Quins, last season’s runners-up, are already through to the Foster’s Challenge Cup semi-finals and will be bidding to go one better than last season when they lost to the Drovers at the Principality Stadium.
WRU National Cup Quarter-Finals
Carmarthen Quins v Pontypridd
Cross Keys v Pontypool
Ebbw Vale v Merthyr
RGC1404 v Llandovery
Matches to be played on 4 March (subject to TV scheduling)
