Neath RFC v Pontypool RFC

Leighton Jones has played down the significance of tomorrow’s showdown with Neath RFC, insisting it will not be a season-defining game.

The two lock horns in a top-of-the-table clash at the Gnoll with Pooler given an opportunity to move 12 points clear of their rivals if they manage to pick up all five points. The Welsh All Blacks will be looking to close the gap to just two points.

The reverse fixture produced a thrilling encounter at Pontypool Park back in September with the game going down to the final minute and Pooler emerging narrow 34-30 winners.

With Neath operating as hosts this time around, head coach Jones believes the pressure will be on them to get a result.

“I suppose it is a big game because it is Neath and the history the game has and the good game we had at the Park at the start of the season,” said Jones.

“That game was quite early in the season.

“We’ve grown as a team and I’m sure Neath have grown so it’s probably going to be an even tougher game than it was at the start of the season.

“The squads are settled, plays have probably changed in both camps.

“It will be two good teams going hammer and tongs for the W.

“I think the pressure is on them now.

“At the start of the season we were at home, I think the pressure is always on the home team in these big games so I think Neath will have more pressure on them than us.

“We are a few points clear of them in the league and it’s at their ground so I think all the pressure is on them.

“We’ve spoken about going down and if we can get the win it does put a bit more daylight in [the table] but as we’ve seen anyone can beat anyone on their day.

“We’ll be concentrating on ourselves, we take it game by game so whatever the result, it will be on to the next game.

“We take nothing for granted, we never have done.

“We’ve been in the position years ago where we were clear and got caught.

“We’ve learned from the past so we go game by game and this game definitely doesn’t define where we’ll be in the league at the end of the season.

“It’s just another five points on offer and a win we’ll be going for.”

Pooler make six changes for the trip west with Jones praising the competitiveness of his squad.

“We didn’t want first-choice players and then there being a drop down to second-choice players,” he continued.

“We’ve worked hard over the last couple of years of developing the local boys and bringing in some boys and making sure that gap is as narrow as it can be.

“The competition for places is there, if you are not on the money then you’re out and as we’ve seen in a few games when we’ve unloaded the bench the standard of the performance has gone up so that will be something we’ll be looking for again on Saturday.”

Kyan Best and Kelvyn Williams come into the front row while Ieuan Jones replaces skipper Scott Matthews at number eight.

Dai Jones starts at scrum half with Amosa Nove and Joel Mahoney also returning to the team.