Mounting injury list hinders Ponty

Llandovery are the visitors to Sardis Road tomorrow (KO 2:30pm). The Drovers are poised perilously close to the Premiership drop zone, but that in itself, along with their comfortable home win over Ponty in the corresponding fixture back in December, will make them a dangerous animal to contend with.

Whilst the Drovers will be fighting for their lives in the top flight, Ponty will seek to maintain their season-long winning run at Sardis, hoping to make third place in the table, or at least to consolidate a fourth place finish.

Having lost a close encounter away to champions Cardiff midweek, Ponty suffered another injury blow, with winger Owen Williams departing the game concussed. He joins centre Adam Thomas (concussion), outside half Gareth McCarthy (hamstring), prop Pat Palmer (shoulder), lock Grant Harrington (hamstring) and flanker Kristian Dacey (knee) on the sick list.

To compensate for those absentees, full back Matt Hutchings makes a comeback from injury to be placed on the bench, and influential flanker Wayne O'Connor from suspension to return to the starting line up. Lewis Williams comes in on the wing, with Stuart Williams at loose head prop, partnering hooker Huw Dowden and tight head Sam Hobbs in a revised front row union.

Pontypridd: 15.Kristian Baller. 14.Lewis Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Mike Davies. 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Andrew Jenkins. 1.Stuart Williams. 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Sam Hobbs. 4.Ryan Savage. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Rhys Lloyd. 7.Wayne O'Connor. 8.Nathan Strong (capt).
Subs: Rhys Downes; Lawrence Price; Matt Hutchings; Chris Martenko; Ryan Harford; Geraint Lewis; Leighton Davies