BLACKWOOD coach Mark Thomas is hoping his side can beat Welsh First Division table-toppers Aberavon at Glan-yr-Afon Park on Saturday.

The reasons are numerous - Aberavon are top, Thomas would prefer to see fellow Gwent side Pontypool at No1 and the Wizards and their coach Chris O'Callaghan always seem to be in the news.

But the main reason is Thomas wants his side to prove they can mix it with the big clubs. Although Blackwood are currently sixth and keen to stay in the top half dozen, they have not beaten any of the top five above them or the side immediately below them this season.

"But I've told the players we have to play them all again, five of them at home, and that gives us the chance to prove something," said Thomas.

"We have been consistent this season, are in the top six on merit and would be disappointed to lose our place. As far as I'm concerned there is still a lot to play for. "This time last season we hit a sticky patch against the top clubs, so this is a good chance to see how far we've come in the past year.

"Maybe after their cup defeat by Cardiff we might catch Aberavon a bit cold. "And if we win it would give another Gwent side a boost (Pontypool, chief challengers to Aberavon for the title). I'd rather see Pontypool up there than Aberavon."

Thomas added: "We've only lost at home to Pontypool in the league this season and we'd like to keep it that way.

"It will be a big game for our pack. Aberavon usually seem to get the edge on us up front, but we've always been in the games against them, even if the scorelines have not always shown it.

"They are a good side, their pack backed up by a lively scrum half in Dan Hawkins and with the likes of Matthew Back (ex-Wales international) in the back line. "We'll have to be at our best to beat them but we hope to put them on the back foot and do just that."

Centre James Richards, signed from Tredegar over a month ago, makes his league debut for Blackwood while for the first time brothers Jamie and Wayne Sims are paired up in the back row.

Blackwood: D Brown, G Rees, J To'o, J Richards, C Lay, M Jones, O Jones, J Price, A Peacock, Ioan Jones, D Hallman, M Tucker, W Sims, C Clements, J Sims. Replacements from rest of squad. Kick-off 2.30pm.