Qualification to the final will be incentive enough to win, but in the knowledge also that a home draw in that round is guaranteed with the result.
Irish provincial giants Leinster A will come to Pontypridd on top form and with a daunting reputation, having won all their qualifying pool games and then seeing off rivals Munster A by 47-15 in the quarter finals. Ponty meanwhile just edged qualification from a tough Pool 2 and then gained a narrow 14-16 quarter final away win at Cornish Pirates.
Pontypridd and Leinster have met three times previously in the BIC, the result going with home advantage on each occasion. In the quarter final round of the 2011 – 2012 tournament Leinster registered a comprehensive 34-0 victory in Dublin. At the qualifying stage the following season Ponty edged a 25-23 win at Sardis Road but then lost away at Donnybrook by 21-9.
Ponty’s selection options have been impacted by late injuries to centre Gavin Dacey with a hamstring twinge, and hooker Huw Dowden with rib cartilage damage. They join long term absentees, winger Chris Clayton (shoulder) and Alex Webber (groin), scrum half Tom Williams (ankle), prop Pat Palmer (shoulder) and flanker Jake Thomas (ankle).
Wales Sevens captain Adam Thomas makes a welcome return from a recent shoulder injury to claim the outside centre position, with prop Keiron Jenkins also declared fit after suffering a strained wrist. Outside half Simon Humberstone and lock Chris Dicomidis return to club duties from the Blues senior squad.
Pontypridd 15.Geraint Walsh. 14.Lewis I Williams. 13. Adam Thomas. 12.Dafydd Lockyer (Capt) 11.Owen Jenkins. 10.Simon Humberstone. 9.Joel Raikes; 1.James Howe. 2.Liam Belcher. 3.Keiron Jenkins. 4.Craig Locke. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Wayne O’Connor. 7.Rhys Shellard. 8.Dan Godfrey.
Subs: 16.Lloyd Williams. 17.Dai Flanagan. 18.Aled Summerhill. 19.Aled Morris. 20.Jordan Sieniawski. 21.Owen Sheppeard. 22.Chris Phillips.
