The all west Wales clash is one of four play-off games taking place, with the respective winners securing a place in the cross-border competition for the coming season.
Each region will have one club as their representative in the competition, with the Drovers hoping for a positive result against Llanelli.
Lyndon Lewis’ side have home advantage courtesy of their second placed finish last season. Everyone at Church Bank will be well aware though that it was Llanelli who emerged as winners when the sides met in the play-off semi-final last year.
In the other three games to take place on Saturday, Pontypridd host Cardiff at Sardis Road while Cross Keys visit Bedwas.
At the Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon welcome Bridgend after both sides came through the first round of play-offs last weekend.
After a nail-biting win over Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli travel to Church Bank with confidence though the Drovers will be fresh having not played since their recently friendly win over English side Cinderford.
While both sides will contain a number of new faces, their preference for a fast, fluid game should make for an entertaining 80 minutes.
“Pre-season has gone OK but we’ve got a number of new players so I’ll see where we are at the end of September,” said Llandovery head coach Lewis.
“We play every game to win and we want to be involved in every competition so the game with Llanelli is a big one for us.
“The league is obviously the most important thing but we won our first five games in the British & Irish Cup last year and were unlucky not to qualify.
“We lost to Nottingham in our last game and went out on points difference so we’d love to try and go further this year.”
To reach the pool stages though, Lewis knows his young side will have to gel quickly.
“We’ve lost seven key players from last year and we’re very much in a rebuilding phase,” he said.
“A high turnover of players makes things a challenge but it’s something we’re more than up for.”
Llanelli head coach Anthony Buchanan said: “Llandovery are a new side but we’re looking forward to a really strong challenge.
“We’ve signed a number of young development players and I’m looking forward to seeing them in action.
“Overall, we’re moving along nicely.”
At Sardis Road, Pontypridd start their competitive season with a clash against old rivals Cardiff.
Following last season’s league and cup double and having already lifted the Foster’s National Sevens trophy last month, expectations are understandably high going into this campaign.
But with a winner takes all local derby to start the season, the defending Premiership champions have put last season’s successes behind them.
“To have such a critical fixture at the very start of a new campaign is a huge challenge,” said Pontypridd assistant coach Paul John.
“This is an even bigger game than usual, a really exciting encounter with so much riding on the result. We desperately want to remain a part of the British & Irish Cup and are really looking forward to the challenge.”
Dale McIntosh’s side go into the British & Irish Cup decider following some pre-season friendly wins and their inaugural sevens triumph.
“The boys have had a good rest and a good pre-season,” added John.
“Those who played in the National Sevens reacted well to a new challenge and got the season off to a great start by winning another cup.
“We move to a totally new level now with the Cardiff match. They always raise their game against us and we expect a full on, competitive encounter. We are looking forward to the day, knowing the expectations of the club and our supporters. It will be all or nothing.”
Cross Keys’ meeting with Bedwas sees two sides who just missed out on a play-off place last year go head-to-head. Bedwas not only have home advantage but have also had an extra week to prepare thanks to their fourth placed finish last year.
Keys showed just how dangerous they can be though with a convincing win over Newport last weekend with the winners of this tie set to feature in Pool A of the British & Irish Cup alongside Ealing, Moseley and Leinster.
The weekend’s final clash sees Aberavon and Bridgend meet at the Talbot Athletic Ground. The Wizards got the better of Swansea last week while the Ravens edged Neath at The Gnoll.
“Aberavon are always a good team at home and will prove a stern test for the squad,” said Bridgend head coach Ben Rose.
“This is exactly what we need going into a busy first week of the season.”
British & Irish Cup fixtures: (Saturday, September 7.) All kick-offs 2.30pm.
Aberavon vs Bridgend
Pontypridd vs Cardiff
Llandovery vs Llanelli
Bedwas vs Cross Keys
