A PLACE in the quarter-finals is the prize on offer to the 16 clubs left in this season’s WRU National Cup – and hopes are high that several Gwent sides will progress to the last eight today.

Pontypool caused the shock of the first round when they knocked out cup kings Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets in front of a live television audience.

And Leighton Jones’ team, unbeaten so far this term, will have their minds set on another upset this evening, with an Arms Park clash against Cardiff awaiting them in the capital (kick-off 6.30pm).

On the road again for a second successive cup meeting with Principality Premiership opponents won’t faze Pooler.

They got the job done in Llanelli and now face a side who go into the match on the back of just one win in their last 10 league and cup games.

In all, the Blue and Blacks have only won half of their fixtures on the Arms Park’s artificial surface this season – they suffered back-to-back losses, to Neath and Swansea, in their last two outings there.

Pooler, who beat Cardiff on the way to lifting the cup for the only time in their history in 1983, have left naming their side until today to give those with niggles every chance of proving their fitness.

Meanwhile, Ronny Kynes is set to captain Ebbw Vale at Beddau in the absence of Damien Hudd.

The second row took a blow to the shoulder against Bedwas a fortnight ago and will take on a coaching role for the Steelmen’s trip to Mount Pleasant Park (2.30pm).

There are eight changes in all to the Ebbw line-up after the league victory over Aberavon, including a new front row featuring Ross Jones, Gethin Robinson and Jonny Bowen.

Dai Jones and Dai Langdon come in at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, while Nathan Preece reverts back to centre from the wing with Gareth Maule dropping out.

Newport have a massive task on their hands against Pontypridd at Sardis Road (2.30pm), and coach Craig Warlow has made changes following the win against Bridgend.

Elliot Frewen returns to the wing after being on duty with Wales Sevens in New Zealand and lock Adam Brown earns a recall at the expense of Dan Mock.

Full-back Llywarch Ap Myrddin, centre Chay Smith, hooker Henry Palmer and back row Rhodri Jones also get the nod.

Josh Prosser is back at fly-half for Cross Keys as they take on Neath at Pandy Park (2.30pm).

James Thomas makes way for him, Leon Andrews goes to full-back – the position Prosser occupied last weekend – and Lewis Barnett and Phil Williams form a new centre pairing.

Second row Dan Hodge, back row Joe Thomas and scrum-half James Leadbeater all start.

Head coach Steve Law brings wing Rory Budina, centre Mike Callow, hooker Alun Rees and back row Andrew Waite into his starting XV for Bedwas’ home tie with Merthyr (2.30pm), while Bargoed visit cup holders Llandovery.

WRU National Cup second round: Beddau v Ebbw Vale, Bedwas v Merthyr, Bridgend v RGC 1404, Cardiff v Pontypool, Cross Keys v Neath, Llandovery v Bargoed, Narberth v Carmarthen Quins, Pontypridd v Newport.

Bargoed (at Llandovery): J Hallett; D Evans, D Humphries, L Bowden, A Norton; J Mogg, J Pizey; J Williams, L Meades (capt), K Brown, J Jacas, A Coupe, A Herbert, L Weyman. Reps: C Wilson, C Jones, G Callow, L Blacker, L Beach, Alex Gardner-Key, I Jenkins, R Morgan.

Bedwas (home to Merthyr): A Bramwell; R Budina, A Williams, M Callow, M John; R Powell, N Griffiths (capt); D Preece, A Rees, M Pettit, G Edmunds, J Davies, A Waite, G Lee, R Blake. Reps: B Toms, R Hutcherson, C Budgen, T Bell, J Richards, T Rowlands, J Dixon, P Lewis.

Cross Keys (home to Neath): L Andrews; M Powell, L Barnett, P Williams, N Trowbridge; J Prosser, J Leadbeater; L Smout, D Hughes (capt), R Cornock, D Hodge, S Andrews, A Powell, J Thomas, I Jones. Reps: R Jones, G Price-Jones, G Carpenter, T Lampard, R Fitzgerald, B Nightingale, O Leonard, J Goodchild.

Ebbw Vale (at Beddau): D Haymond; C Levesley, N Preece, D Franchi, J Lewis; D Langdon, D Jones; R Jones, J Bowen, G Robinson, J Davies, AN Other, R Clarke, R Kynes (capt), J Goodey. Reps: J Franchi, I George, R Sevenoaks, J Bartlett, M Preece, R Lewis, C Thomas, S Majkic.

Newport (at Pontypridd): L Ap Myrddin; W Cunliffe, T Pascoe, C Smith, E Frewen; M O’Brien, O Davies; J Lavender, He Palmer, G Harris, D Mock, D Partridge, R Jones, R Jenkins, R Tucker. Reps: W Evans, M Prosser, T Piper, K Tayler, J Morris, R James, G O’Driscoll, Ha Palmer.

Pontypool (at Cardiff): TBC.