PONTYPOOL supporters will hold a special place in their hearts for Swansea and Bridgend Athletic if they can help scupper Bargoed’s and RGC 1404’s Swalec Championship promotion bids today.

Seven points separate Pooler, Bargoed and RGC, who occupy third, fourth and fifth places respectively, as they all battle for places in next season’s Principality Premiership.

Merthyr and Swansea continue their two-horse race for the title this weekend, with an All Whites win against RGC just the ticket for them and Pooler.

While if Bridgend Athletic can also do the men from Gwent a favour in their clash with Bargoed then all the better for Pooler head coach Louie Tonkin and his charges.

Tonkin’s side travels to Tata Steel (2.30pm) expecting a much tougher test than the one they got, or didn’t get, when thrashing Glynneath 76-3 last weekend.

But getting the job done at Tata, who Pooler put 50 points on in December, is obviously Tonkin’s priority before he can look at other results.

“If we can get five points and RGC lose at Swansea then that would really help us,” he said.

“We will focus on ourselves but you do have how the sides around you are doing in the back of your mind.”

He added: “It’s a massive challenge for us at Tata because they have improved significantly since we played them earlier in the season.

“They beat RGC a few weeks ago in horrible conditions and were very strong up front.

“But our guys have been flying in training, it’s been like pre-season, and we’ve got boys coming back from injury this weekend.

“We are more or less at full strength in every position.”

Centre Dan Robinson is one of those returning from injury while flanker Nathan Hudd and wing Rhodri Usher are expected to shake off a shoulder problem and dead leg respectively.

Meanwhile, Newbridge, who have lost eight of their last nine in the Championship, entertain Beddau (2.30pm).

‘Bridge came mighty close to beating Bridgend seven days ago, and that was on the back of a narrow loss to Newcastle Emlyn.

Championship: Bargoed v Bridgend Athletic, Glynneath v Llanharan, Merthyr v Newcastle Emlyn, Narberth v Cardiff Met, Newbridge v Beddau, Swansea v RGC 1404, Tata Steel v Pontypool.