The Ravens travel to Ebbw Vale on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways in the Principality Premiership (2:30pm).
In the backs, Marc Bennett continues at full-back maintaining his impressive record of starting every game so far this campaign. Speedsters Ryan Griffiths and Mike Powell start out wide and Watkin joins up with vice-captain Ryan Evans in midfield. Joseph Scrivens is partnered by Will Baird at half back.
The powerful front row features Suter at tighthead with Dale Rogers at hooker and Nicky Boyce on the loose. In the boilerhouse, Dewi Parry is partnered by Gavin Bilton. Captain Zac is joined in the back row by his brother Adam and Matthew John.
Bridgend lost their first league game in five in a disappointing reserve at Carmarthen Park on Saturday. In terrible conditions, the Ravens came from behind to get themselves back into the game with a try from top try scorer, Ashton Evans. Just as Bridgend seemed likely to pull ahead, Quins broke away up-field with a try from Dylan Morgans which ultimately took the game away from Bridgend. Previously, Bridgend had won four straight league games against Neath, Cardiff, Bedwas and Pontypridd and will need more of that winning spirit to win at the home of last seasons Principality Premiership runners up.
Ebbw Vale are two wins and ten points better off than Bridgend in the current league standings. The Steelmen kicked off the campaign with a 8-20 win at the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field but have hit mixed form every since. After winning their first three league games, they came unstuck in a 0-50 humiliation at Llandovery. Their best result to date was a highly impressive 26-18 win at Sardis Road against champions Pontypridd in late October. Their last Premiership game saw them come away with a 20-14 win at Aberavon.
Bridgend have yet to beat Ebbw Vale since their return to the Principality Premiership. The Steelmen have won all three clashes, with the overall head-to-head all square at 17 wins apiece (and one draw). The last Bridgend win against Ebbw came in January 2011, in a SWALEC Cup first round match at the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field. That season ended in success for both sides with Bridgend winning Division 1 West and Ebbw Vale won Division 1 East. It would be Bridgend that would be celebrating though, as a play-off victory against Glamorgan Wanderers secured their return to the Principality Premiership.
Bridgend team v Ebbw Vale:
15. Marc Bennett
14. Ryan Griffiths
13. Ryan Evans
12. Owen Watkin
11. Mike Powell
10. Joseph Scrivens
9. Will Baird
1. Nicky Boyce
2. Dale Rogers
3. Daniel Suter
4. Dewi Parry
5. Gavin Bilton
6. Adam O’Driscoll
7. Zac O’Driscoll ©
8. Matthew John
Replacements: Iestyn Merriman, Cai Lewis, Dan Matthews, Sam Treharne, AN Other, Geraint Watkin, Joseph Gatt & Morgan Jones.
