THE future of Abertillery is at stake tonight as they attempt to maintain their great escape bid against relegation from the Welsh First Division.

They face Newbridge at home in their last game of the season knowing anything less than a win will send them down to Division Two.

The club, which in years gone by produced great Wales and British Lions players like Alun Pask, Haydn Morgan and Allan Lewis, have been struggling for some time.

If they go down, a number of players are likely to move to pastures new.

Just over two months ago they were ten points adrift at the bottom of the table.

A change of coaches eventually turned matters around and the club have won six and drawn one of their last nine games.

Even so, they must win again tonight and hope the other relegation strugglers, Blackwood, lose at Llanharan on Friday night.

Even then it would go to try count as the clubs would be level on points, Blackwood currently having the narrowest of advantages of one try. "It's D-day I suppose," said club chairman David Llewellyn, "and one of the biggest games in our history.

"We hope we can maintain our current form and win, that is the first priority. Then we hope we can score sufficient tries to put Blackwood under pressure on Friday."

Newbridge have a number of injury worries and will not name a side until just before kick-off.

Team manager Keith Westwood said: "We will be doing our best to win. We want to finish as high up the table as we can. If Abertillery go down as a result, so be it."

Abertillery make one change to the team who won at Abercynon, Andrew Metcalf returning for Matthew Price in the front row.

Newbridge, already without several long-term injured players like Matt James, John Bowd, Andrew Green and Matt Tucker, have new worries. Second row Lee Mruk has an operation today on an arm injury, Dean Gibbs has broken a thumb, Max Rice is unavailable and Anthony Edwards has a groin strain.

Abertillery: D Miles, D Morris, R Morgan, P Jones, N McKim, R Watts, N Hope, A Oliver, M Williams, A Metcalf, D Hudd, C Penny, G Howells, D Cooper, G Gladwyn. Kick-off 7.15pm Replacements from rest of squad.

Pontypool too face a crunch game, for they must win at Dunvant tonight to have a chance of finishing First Division runners-up.

Dunvant are currently second, but a Pontypool victory would take them above their rivals and another win at home to Bonymaen in their final game would leave them second.

"It's an important game," said team manager Tony Clark. "We always felt a top two position was within our capabilities.

"Had it not been for inconsistency we would have had a position in the top two already," Pontypool: backs from, J Griffin, S Tuipulotu, L Jones, B Jefferies, C Batsford, E Palmer, S Enoch, M de Maid, S Pennell, D Manley; forwards from, G Gunter, D Ogg, L Murray, J Sulway, I Jones, U Moa, M Taylor, I Bevan, C Johnson, J Derrick, D Mbakwe, G Rowlands. Kick-off 7.15pm. Meet club 4.30pm. Bus leaves 4.45pm.