VETERAN back Geraint Walsh has called for cool heads when Pontypool play for a place in the Principality Premiership against Llanelli this evening.

The clubs meet at Aberavon's Talbot Athletic Ground (kick-off 7.05pm) for the final place in next season's revamped 12-team top flight.

Llanelli finished fifth from bottom of the Premiership after being leapfrogged by Bridgend last Saturday while Pooler have long been inked in for the play-off courtesy of their third WRU National Championship triumph on the spin.

It was a case of when, not if, Leighton Jones' men would win the crown and they went on to secure a second perfect campaign on the spin, taking their record to 65 wins from 66 league games since missing out on promotion in 2016.

Now they are aiming to down Llanelli to earn a place at the top table for the first time since 2012, when they were demoted because of more tinkering to the Premiership format.

Pooler have already claimed the scalp of Llanelli along with the Premiership's Cardiff, Carmarthen Quins, Cross Keys and Bridgend in recent in the WRU National Cup runs.

However, head coach Jones has already described this evening's clash as "a massive game, our biggest in three years", and that it put his charges under severe pressure.

Walsh is no stranger to big games thanks to his stellar spell at Pontypridd, with his exploits earning Wales Sevens recognition and a professional contract with Cardiff Blues.

The 30-year-old's experience will be to the fore in a clash that will put players under severe stress given the prize for the winners.

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Pooler are at their best when they play on the edge, but they also need to stay on the right side of World Cup referee Nigel Owens.

Walsh said: "There will be a fine line in not allowing our emotions to run away with us. In those terms, we have played three Principality Premiership sides this season and largely hit the right note.

"Despite the cup run, this will obviously be the biggest game of the season as the club has been working towards this for the last three seasons.

"We have to keep the pressure off ourselves and it will all be about belief. A lot of our boys have been involved in Premiership teams and I think we can go into the game confident and with the belief that we can achieve something special."

Walsh has represented his country on the sevens circuit but is now the experienced figure alongside the fast feet of young wingers Jordan Thomas and Lloyd Lewis.

The utility back will be tasked with using the knowhow from his trophy-laden Ponty days to bring the best out of those around him.

"If I'm lucky enough to be selected, I will try and be a bit more of a cool head on the field. I try to set an example through my actions and will look to make sensible decisions and not get too carried away," he said.

"The boys in our back division are better when they are excited and can express themselves and it's important to keep everything positive.

"The Aberavon surface is good and the weather is supposed to be decent. We have to back how we have approached things so far this season and keep going."

Pooler triumphed 19-11 when the clubs met at Parc y Scarlets in the cup in January, 2017 thanks to tries by scrum-half Aaron Quick and hooker Alex Watkins plus a trio of penalties from fly-half Matthew Jones.