Cross Keys are the last team to defeat Ponty in the cup. That defeat came when the sides met in the final back in 2012 when Keys lifted the trophy after an amazing final, which Keys won by 32-19.
Since then Ponty have simply dominated in both the league and cup and this season they are looking to win the double for a third successive season. Keys, however are also chasing the double and will look to go someway to spoiling Ponty’s season by claiming victory in the semi-final this Saturday.
Keys are on an amazing run at present, winning nine games in a row but in knockout rugby, form goes out of the window and they will need to be right on top of their game if they are to go through to their third final in just four years.
The Keys starting line-up shows a total of seven changes to the one that started at Rodney Parade against Newport last Saturday.
Nathan Trowbridge and Ryan James replace Polu Uhi and James Leadbeater respectively in the back line, whilst in the pack there are five changes.
Two thirds of the front row are changed with Richard Cornock and Anthony Lott coming in at prop. Danny Hodge and Simon Williams partner up in the second row against their old side and Adam Powell returns to the back row, starting at blind side flanker.
The SSE SWALEC Cup semi-final will be the first of two encounters between the clubs within a week as they play a Premiership tie at Pandy Park on the following Saturday.
Pontypridd have already beaten Cross Keys at home in the league this season, by 27-10 just before Christmas.
Going all out to pursue a third consecutive league and cup double, Ponty keep faith largely with the same team that started an impressive home win over Cardiff last time out, but with centre Gavin Dacey and flanker Luke Crocker returning from Samurai Tens duties, and outside half Lewis K Williams from injury to be included in the mix.
Cross Keys: 15 James Cordy-Redden 14 Lloyd Lewis 13 Leon Andrews (Capt) 12 Phil Williams 11 Nathan Trowbridge 10. Ethan Davies 9 Ryan James; 1 Richard Cornock 2 Darren Hughes 3 Anthony Lott 4 Danny Hodge 5 Simon Williams 6 Adam Powell 7 Scott Matthews 8 Jack Condy
Replacements: 16 Henry Palmer, 17 Luke Garrett, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Josh Skinner, 20 Nathan Williams, 21 Polu Uhi 22 James Leadbeater 23 Tom Lampard.
Pontypridd: 15 Aled Summerhill 14 Lewis I Williams 13 Gavin Dacey 12 Dafydd Lockyer (Capt) 11 Owen Jenkins 10 Jarrod Evans 9 Joel Raikes; 1 James Howe 2 Liam Belcher 3 Pat Palmer 4 Craig Locke 5 Chris Dicomidis 6 Jake Thomas 7 Rhys Shellard 8 Dan Godfrey.
Subs: 16 Lloyd Williams 17 Lewis K Williams 18 Dale Stuckey 19 Huw Dowden 20 Wayne O’Connor 21 Luke Crocker 22 Chris Phillips 23 Dillon Lewis.
