GWENT county players Craig Smith (pictured) and Neil Oakley face the most testing days of their careers next week.

The pair line-up in the Welsh Amateur Golf Championship at Conwy determined to cement their places in the side for the four-cornered Home International Series over the Royal St David's links at Harlech in September.

They are both currently just in the top seven in the Konica Order of Merit and if they maintain those positions both will make it into the 11-man side, but if they are edged out in the final counting event then wild cards would have to be relied on - and they do not want that.

Smith and Oakley, who both play at St Mellons, have enjoyed successful seasons so far with consistency being the key word, and they now know that one final push will put them across the white line.

As it happens, Smith and Oakley are in the same quarter of the draw and both have byes into round two.

Oakley, joint winner of the Duncan Putter at Easter, is seeded to meet David Price in one of the quarter-finals. But before that he has to overcome Wayne Joinson of Whitchurch at the first hurdle and then could well come up against former Welsh boy's champion Cennydd Mills in round three.

Smith takes on Maesteg's Tim Davies and then will play either Pontypridd's James Williams or Peter Hendriksen.

One thing is certain - it will be a nerve-wracking couple of days for the Gwent men. Pontynewydd's Mark Skinner is also in the field and takes on former Welsh boy's champion Matthew Davies of Holywell in the first round.

Craig Williams, winner at Royal Porthcawl last year, is not defending because he has turned professional.

However John Jermaine who, at the age of 56, became the oldest champion at Harlech in 2000, is playing and meets Richard Peet in the second round after a bye. The championship begins on Wednesday and continues until the 36-hole final on Saturday, August 3.

Draw (affecting Gwent players). First round: C Menai-Davies (Bridgedown) v L Clark (Pontnewydd); M J Davies (Holywell) v M Skinner (Pontnewydd). Second round: D Price (Vale of Glamorgan) v Menai-Davies or Clark; M J Davies or Skinner v C Chamberlian (Borth and Ynyslais) or B Knight (Whitchurch); C Smith (St Mellons) v T Davies (Maesteg); W Joinson (Whitchurch) v N Oakley (St Mellons); C Cole (Monmouthshrie) v J Tottey (Conwy); S Westley (Llanwern) v R P Thomas (Aberdare); A L Davies (Tredegar and Rhymney) v T Hayward (Pontnewydd); A Stockwell-Price (Llanwern) v C Robertston (Northop).