Neath visit Merthyr in front of the S4C cameras on Thursday (kick off 7.30pm).

After defeats by Aberavon and Carmarthen Quins, the coaching team have named a much-changed side with half a dozen players resuming after being on the bench last time.

Behind the scrum, Lewis Evans returns at full back with Dafydd Howells back from work commitments on one wing and Llewellyn Hawkes on the other while Macauley Griffiths comes in at scrum-half.

Up front, Evan Kneath, Ioan Jones, Carwyn Sion and Fergus Kneath resume with prop Christian Brooke getting his chance at prop as Neath seek a fast start on a fast artificial surface.

Neath v Merthyr (Away)

15 Lewis Evans; 14 Dafydd Howells, 13 Ryan Evans (captain), 12 Kieran Charles, 11 Llewellyn Hawkes; 10 Kristian Jones, 9 Macauley Griffiths; 1 Jack Powell, 2 Evan Kneath, 3 Christian Brooke; 4 Ioan Jones, 5 Jacob Blackmore; 6 Carwyn Sion, 8 Morgan Kneath, 7 Fergus Kneath

Replacements : 16 Morgan Thomas, 17 Chris Morris, 18 Tim Ryan, 19 Ross O’Connor, 20  Dyfan Ceredig, 21 Ben Williams, 22 Elis Horgan or Chris Morgans, 23 Joe Hutchings

Referee – Mr. Steff Edwards (Swansea Valley)

September Fixtures

Sat.   Sept. 23     Ebbw Vale (Cup)                             Home

Sat.   Sept. 30     Pontypridd                                    Home