Three matches kick-off at 2.30pm with the day’s Konica Minolta entertainment culminating in Aberavon against Ebbw Vale at the Talbot Athletic Ground at 5.30pm – a match which is also live on S4C.
Premiership leaders and probable favourites Neath meet Cross Keys at Pandy Park with Coach Rowland Phillips relishing the challenge and boosted by returns for captain Lee Beach and centre Dafydd Lockyer.
“We know what to expect from Cross Keys who really dogged it out in the league game there recently,” said Phillips.
“They are always combative up front, they contest every ball and cut down your space. We have a lot of respect for their rugby approach under Rob Beale who adds value to all his charges and it should be a good, competitive cup tie.”
Phillips is keeping his team selection close to his chest until matchday but his opposite number Beale has named a team he says is targeting Konica silverware
“We’ve achieved a degree of safety from relegation in the Premiership now so we really have nothing to lose in throwing everything we can at Neath,” said Beale.
“We’ve played them twice already this season and were unlucky to miss out on a draw the first time and were 9-6 up at half time two weeks ago before leaking a couple of tries to give a flattering scoreline.
“We will wear the underdogs tag with pride and give it everything we can on the day and anything can happen.”
Newport travel to the home of Glamorgan Wanderers in the reverse of last weekend’s league fixture and Wanderers Coach Richard Hodges is looking to reverse the result with nine changes to his side.
“We learnt a lot about them last week and we have had a good couple of months ourselves so hopefully we can turn round a result,” said Hodges. “I’m told this is the first quarter-final appearance for the Wanderers in 21 years so it’s a massive game for the club and if we can reach a semi-final that would be even better.
“We’ve got the U20 back row Sam Warburton making his return for the first time since a hamstring injury and plenty of talent elsewhere in the side with U20 tight head Scott Andrews and veteran second row Keith Stewart both on show and we are all really looking forward to it.”
Pontypridd welcome back winger Chris Clayton, hooker Duane Goodfield and No.8 and skipper Nathan Strong for the quarter final clash, all claiming their places in the starting line up, whilst scrum half Rhys Downes returns from international duties with Wales U18 to feature on the bench.
Coach Dale McIntosh, whose side host Bridgend at Sardis Road, says he too has targeted the Konica Minolta Cup as the measure of success this season.
“This is a crucial game for both clubs involved,” said McIntosh, “and will be a big occasion for our supporters as well, as the competition means so much to us all. League form and status will go out of the window for this clash.
“Bridgend have had a tough season, and will come out fighting, whilst the cup is a realistic target for us at Pontypridd this season, with the league crown being more or less wrapped up by Neath. Both clubs have a strong pedigree in the cup which will add to the sense of occasion, and we will take nothing for granted in going all out for the win which we so much want to achieve.”
The Wizards have played the Steelmen three times in the cup competition with Aberavon leading the way on two victories. The sides first met in the cup in 1983-84 when the Wizards beat the Steelmen 16-7 at Eugene Cross Park in a quarter-final.
They met again in 1996 when Vale won 32-8 at the Talbot Athletic Ground, this time it was called the SWALEC Cup. Two seasons ago they were again paired against each other and Aberavon won a thrilling contest 33-31.
Cross Keys v Neath, Pandy Park, 2.30pm
Glamorgan Wdrs v Newport, Memorial Ground, 2.30pm
Pontypridd v Bridgend, Sardis Road, 2.30pm
Aberavon v Ebbw Vale, Talbot Athletic Ground 5.30pm
TEAMS
CROSS KEYS: Leon Andrew; James Ledbetter, Carl Pocock, Shane Regan, Marcus Johnstone; Scott Sneddon, Owan Jones; Julian Price, Lloyd Burns, Craig Gould, Mark Curtis, Ben Watkins, Tom Lampard, Rhys Peebles, Colin Bridges
REPLACEMENTS: Dan Dark, Bryan James, Nathan Buck, James Malpas Ashley Sweet, Geraint Gladwin, Dan Preece.
NEATH FROM: G.King, K.James, J.Spratt, S.Thomas, D.Lockyer, W.Mitchell, M.Nuthall, H.Thomas, A.Thomas, G.Jones, G.James, N.Downs, M.Jones, J.Richards, A.James, A.Littlehales, R.Davies, C.Mitchell, E.Evans, S.Martin, M.Morgan, A.Llewellyn, G.Gravell, L.Beach (Captain), S.Pengelly
PONTYPRIDD: Lawrence Price; Chris Clayton, Gavin Dacey, Adam Thomas. Kristian Baller; Gareth McCarthy, Andrew Jenkins; Sam Hobbs, Duane Goodfield, Ryan Harford, Ryan Savage, Chris Dicomidis, Lee Evans, Wayne O’Connor, Nathan Strong
REPLACEMENTS: Matthew Hutchings; Rhys Downes; Ian Poley; Leighton Davies; Grant Harrington; Geraint Lewis; Rhys Shellard.
BRIDGEND: Gareth David; Chris Weightman, David Bishop, Gareth Howells, Dan Connolly; Mark David, Jonathan Hooper; Ryan Bevington, Scott Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Gareth Williams, Mike Powell, Jonathan Jones, Matthew Tidball, Ioan Cunningham
REPLACEMENTS: Greg Dix, Ieuan Dobbs, Nathan White, Rory Pitman, Lee Ronan, Geoff Hobbs, Gareth Knox
NEWPORT: Nick Wakely; Mike Poole, Nathan Williams, Scott Williams, Will Kershaw-Naylor; Michael Hook, Andrew Quick, Ian Evans, Andrew Brown ,Lee Harrison, Mark Workman, Adam Frampton, Tom Organ, Paul Williams, Richard Field
REPLACEMENTS: Daniel Evans, Craig Hill, Matthew Veater, Andrew Brown, Mike Leaman, Daniel Griffiths, Mike Burke
GLAMORGAN WANDERERS: Gareth Morris; Huw Williams, Simon Rosser, Aled James, Jamie Jones; Mark Roper, Harry Trelawny; Matt Bolton, Huw Dowden, Scott Andrews, Gareth Knight, Keith Stewart, Nick Kelly, Sam Warburton, Richard Thomas
REPLACEMENTS: Nathan Trevett, Richard Emms, Alex Murphy, Craig Morris, Ben Rose, Gary Lucas, James Thatcher
