Merthyr may appear to be strolling towards a hat-trick of Principality Premiership titles but Cardiff and Pontypridd still believe they can trip them up.
The chasing pair both have to win tonight and then hope the Ironmen lose in order to still have a chance of overtaking them at the top of the table.
Cardiff followed up their WRU National Cup victory over the Ironmen with an 11 try annihilation of Ebbw Vale last weekend and will have more of the same in mind as they bring to a close the best season at the Arms Park in a decade when they welcome bottom of the table Neath.
If they are as ruthless as they were against the Steelmen last weekend then it is likely to be another long, hard night for the visitors as they seek to cut the gap at the top to seven points. Meanwhile, Pontypridd head to Pandy Park to face another of the relegated sides, Cross Keys.
“It is still very much Merthyr’s title to lose, but we will keep on trying to put pressure on them. Losing out on a couple of bonus-points at Pontypridd a few weeks ago really cost us,” admitted Cardiff head coach Steve Law.
“It is important to us to finish the season on a high and we all recognise the trips to Bargoed this weekend and then RGC 1404 next week won’t be easy. But if we can play the same intensity and purpose as we did against Ebbw Vale then I will be happy.”
Keys let in 14 tries in their 82-24 home defeat by RGC 1404 last weekend and, like Neath, will be happy to see their season come to an end tonight. Ponty still have three games to play, one of which is at home against Merthyr, and are still mathematically in with a shout of winning the title.
To do that a lot of stars will have to align for head coach Justin Burnell, but where’s hope! Their first task is to win all three games with a bonus-point to reach 113 points.
Then they have to bank on Merthyr not picking up any more points in their final two matches – against RGC 1404 at The Wern on Friday night and then against Ponty at Sardis Road on 17 May.
They also have to hope Cardiff drop points in one of their three final outings because they are one point ahead of them.
The other game tonight sees Swansea host Aberavon in an Ospreys regional derby. After seeing his side come back from the dead to beat Bridgend deep into injury time last weekend, Wizards coach Jason Hyatt will be another looking for a big finish.
Aberavon are currently seven points behind Ebbw Vale and two wins – they finish with a tough away trip to Llandovery on Saturday – would be enough to move them up into fifth.
