IT looks as though Welsh rugby could have five regional teams and not four involved in next season's Heineken Cup and Celtic League competitions after all.

Further talks between Wales' Premier clubs and Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett later today should move the prospect a step closer.

And that means Moffett may have two options to put before the WRU general committee on Thursday after all, the clubs' five-team scenario and his own plan for four 'provinces'.

That was what he was hoping for last Thursday when a deal was first mooted which encouraged the general committee to delay a vote on the four-team plan alone.

But on Friday Bridgend owner Leighton Samuel pulled out of a proposed link-up with Ponty-pridd, saying he wanted to stick with Neath.

That seemed to have scuppered the five-team idea, but yesterday Samuel changed his mind, agreed the Pontypridd merger, and the clubs' plan was back on.

After talks yesterday, three main stumbling blocks remain, with the overall money on offer from the WRU (now believed be around £8.1m) apparently not a major issue. Those now are:

l How the pot will be divided (with stand alone clubs Llanelli and Cardiff set to get less than the proposed Newport/Ebbw Vale, Bridgend/Pontypridd and Neath/Swansea merged sides).

l Player contracts (central or dual).

l Whether Neath and Swansea can agree a merger.

"This is a critical week for Welsh rugby and I think Thursday's deadline is concentrating the minds," said Moffett.

"There remain a whole range of issues, too many to go into, but I think you have to take a positive attitude.

"What I can say with certainty is that there is one plan (for four provinces) to be put before the general committee. We wait to see if there is another one.

"I'll talk until a minute before we go into Thursday's meeting if needs be because in the end that's what's going to resolve this."

Premier clubs spokesman Derrick King said: "Leighton Samuel, the owner of Bridgend, has always said he wanted four clubs, as other people have, but he accepts the way forward now, if we go with five clubs, is with Pontypridd.

"But there's no definite five sides, there are not five entities that have been agreed on as such.

"Regarding finance, it's not too much of an issue. That need not be the cause of a hold up at the end of the day."

Pontypridd chief executive Gareth Thomas said: "I think the total pot has been pretty well agreed. It's how we get the five teams and how we divide it up that is probably the issue now."

King said he believed the WRU would delay a decision on Thursday as long as the clubs were making progress.

"I don't think it's vital a decision is made then. I think it's vital we keep on progressing."