AFTER winning two WRU National Championships on the spin, big-spending Pontypool start their promotion bid with a trip to Ystrad Rhondda today (kick-off 2.30pm).

Pooler have eased to the crown in the past two seasons and enjoyed a perfect campaign in 2017/18.

It will be a huge shock if they don't make it a hat-trick of titles for a play-off with the Premiership side that finishes fifth from bottom.

However, boss Leighton Jones is not one for complacency and Pooler will aim to repeat last year's exploits to put themselves in good shape for a massive 80 minutes against top flight rivals.

They romped to the title but still had a busy recruitment drive, attracting a number of high profile players to Pontypool Park.

They snapped up Cross Keys captain and flanker Scott Matthews, former Pandy Park favourite Danny Hodge and Pontypridd stalwart Geraint Walsh, who all slot into the starting line-up for the opener.

Pooler should face an early examination of their promotion credentials against a Ystrad Rhondda side that comprehensively beat Brynmawr in last season's eastern play-off for a place in the Championship.

The clubs have only met twice, both games in the 2006/7 season when Pooler won 11-9 away then did the double with a 21-5 success.

Newbridge will be looking to build on their fine 2017/18 season with Rhydyfelin their first opponents at the Welfare Ground.

The Pigs, who will once again be captained by hooker Stuart Vokes, were fifth last season to avoid a repeat of their dramatic escape from relegation 12 months earlier.

The meetings between the sides both went the way of today's visitors.

Pontypool: G Walsh, L Prothero, C Gullis, K Meek, R Usher, M Jones, M Luckwell, K Best, L Ball, O Drake, D Hodge, B Sparks, R Nash, S Matthews, J Williams.

Newbridge: J Hurley, R Evans, L Hudd, S Williams, J Congreve, S Withers, M Davies, G Young, S Vokes (captain), C Davies, J Verrier, R Evans, A Hughes, L Morgan, C Francis.