Neath face one of their most difficult trips on Saturday when they head to third-placed Bargoed (kick off 2.30pm).

The Blacks were 42-7 winners last week at Ystalyfera who made a huge effort to get the game on and make just three changes to the starting XV with Lewis Evans returning at full back, Nicky Griffiths at scrum-half and Sam Langford at lock.

It will be a red-letter day for long-serving hooker Sion Crocker who makes his 200th appearance for the Blacks who had two full training-sessions outdoors this week despite the rains.

Neath v Bargoed (Away)

15 Lewis Evans; 14 Ryan Griffiths, 13 Ryan Evans (captain), 12 Ben Atkins, 11 Aled Brew; 10 Steff Williams, 9 Nicky Griffiths; 1 Gareth Lloyd, 2 Sion Crocker, 3 Tim Ryan; 4 Sam Langford, 5 Matthew Davies; 6 Elis Hopkins, 8 David Griggs, 7 Owain Morgan

Replacements – 16 Josh Clark, 17 Jon Thomas, 18 Jacob Blackmore, 19 Fergus Kneath, 20 Macauley Griffiths

Referee – Mr. Jason Bessant (Bridgend)

January Fixtures :-

Sat     Jan    21      Trebanos                                   H       Cup

Sat     Jan    28      Bedwas                                     A        Championship