PONTYPOOL include Newport Gwent Dragons centre Sione Tuipu-lotu and flanker Andrew Hall as they bid to keep their faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive with victory over Swansea at Pontypool Park tonight.
Depending on other results this week, wins over Swansea and over Neath next Tuesday could yet maintain the club's Welsh Premier Division status.
"We are hopeful the Dragons pair will bring a bit more experience to the table and help the boys get the result we need," said Pontypool coach David Gray.
"It has been a difficult time but we have got to win and the boys have got to pick themselves up and put the pressure on the other sides near the bottom ahead of their games.
"If we get a result and then other results go our way, who knows what may yet happen."
Pooler played some fine rugby against Newport on Saturday, but allowed their rivals to grab a 19-0 lead through some soft tries early on and will need to tackle better and cut out the indiscipline against a Swansea side who have won five of their last six games.
"Swansea are playing some good rugby. They have a young side prepared to put a lot of width on their game and who are clearly enjoying themselves," said Gray.
"They will be confident and it's up to us to make sure we play with intensity but maintain discipline and not give them an early lead.
"We showed on Saturday what we are capable of. We have not got great resources and have a small squad, but the talent and ability is there. It's just that we have struggled to channel it through eighty minutes."
It has been confirmed that flanker Phil Sergeant fractured an ankle against Newport after falling awkwardly.
Pontypool: D Smith, A Sliczney, S Tuipulotu, S Williams, M Poole, S Mills, O Jones, N Giles, L Meades, N Blake, D Rosser, M Amos, A Hall, G Lucas, G Donaldson. Replacements: A Quick, N Daniels, C Jones, J Viner, J Jeune, G McCarthy, L Burns. Kick-off 7.15pm.
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