ON paper it appears to be a Gwent derby mismatch but Pontypool boss Leighton Jones is taking nothing for granted when they host Newbridge in the WRU Championship this afternoon, writes Chris Kirwan.

The two clubs started the season with very different ambitions – Pooler want to lift the title while 'Bridge would be happy to stay in the division after a summer of change.

Jones' men have made a good start with a comprehensive home success against Narberth and a hard-fought win at Beddau. Newbridge, meanwhile, were beaten 23-0 at Dunvant and then hammered 42-7 by Tata Steel at the Welfare Ground.

"If you look at the results then we'd be favourites but this is a derby so I am paying no attention to that," said head coach Jones, who was promoted after Louie Tonkin left at the end of last season.

"Newbridge will be given the respect that they deserve. We won't take them lightly and they are bound to be up for a game against Pontypool.

"I know that they will be coming over with a point to prove after last week while we had a tough test ourselves and are not firing yet, so we are looking at our own game and we have to improve from Beddau.

"It's a tough place to go but we made a slow start to go 13-0 down. To come back from that shows character but I want a bit of a reaction, because it wasn't a good performance.

"Our work rate needs to improve because Newbridge will come out fighting just like Beddau did."

Pooler will be hoping to be on the right side of a Kieran Meek derby masterclass – the full-back scored all Newbridge's points in their 19-17 Swalec Cup away win when the sides met in 2014.

Pooler did the double over 'Bridge last season, repelling a late charge by their hosts to win 25-17 at the Welfare Ground in September (Meek going over for 'The Pigs') before they found things easier when triumphing 38-8 at the Park.

Other fixtures: Bedlinog v Beddau, Cardiff Met v Glamorgan Wanderers, Dunvant v Skewen, Newcastle Emlyn v Narberth, Tata Steel v Glynneath