Full-strength Wasps set to cross semi-final bridge

Two seasons ago, Wasps ventured over the Severn Bridge and found themselves on the uncomfortable end of an Arwel Thomas-inspired 50-point shellacking by Swansea, which takes some believing now that the Welsh All Whites are in temporary administration and have declared themselves a semi-professional club.

Tonight, the Londoners head for Pontypridd and the second leg of a Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final they lead by 15 points. If they fail to progress, the aberration at St Helens will suddenly seem like small change.

"At least we're at Sardis Road – we never give in there," said Lynn Howells, the Pontypridd coach, this week. His sentiments were far from unjustified. Ponty have rattled up some notable home victories in European rugby down the years, not least against a Bath side who considered themselves Heineken Cup certainties and a Leicester team who actually went on to win the thing. Even without Michael Owen, their promising young loose forward, the valleys boys will pack a punch up front – quite literally, with the return of Dale McIntosh to their starting line-up.

But Wasps are the form side in England, entirely convincing up front now Lawrence Dallaglio is operating at something close to 1997 Lions pitch, and more dangerous outside than any of their Premiership rivals, with the possible exception of Sale. The main men – Dallaglio, Joe Worsley, Craig Dowd, Rob Howley, Alex King and Josh Lewsey – will all be involved this evening, as will a couple of bristling young wannabes in the contrasting shapes of John Rudd and Richard Birkett. Ponty will do well to hold them, never mind smack them by 15 points plus.

Wasps have not been in generous mood for some time. "It's always good to put together an unbeaten run at the business end of the season," said Warren Gatland, their highly effective coach. But one of Leeds, Leicester and Northampton will benefit directly if Dallaglio and company fulfil bookmakers' expectations and become the third successive English winners of Europe's second-tier tournament. As things stand, the top four Premiership finishers will win automatic qualification for next season's élite Heineken competition. Assuming Wasps are one of them, a Parker Pen victory would open the door for the fifth-placed side as well.

As per usual at this frantic stage of the campaign, the chase for silverware is mirrored by the chase for new blood. Ponty have completed the signing of Kevin Morgan, the best full-back in Wales, from Swansea while Wasps are being linked with Tom Voyce, the Bath wing capped during England's 2001 tour of North America. Bath, in turn, are confident of rescuing Brendon Daniel, the former Saracens and Harlequins wing, from the increasingly depressing shambles at Bristol.

Alex Sanderson's chances of World Cup rugby in Australia this autumn are dwindling fast following surgery to address neck problems that have troubled him for much of the season. The Sale flanker, among the most destructive tacklers in the Premiership, is expected to be fit by the start of next season, but will almost certainly have lost out to a posse of rival back-rowers vying for the strictly limited spare places in England's 30-man party.

Dallaglio, Richard Hill and Neil Back are stone-cold certainties to fill three of the back-row berths, and Lewis Moody will claim a fourth, provided he proves his fitness by the end of July. That leaves two vacancies for specialist loose forwards – only one if England decide to take five props and three hookers. Worsley, in outstanding shape according to Gatland, is under consideration, as is James Forrester of Gloucester and two more flexible back-five operators, Martin Corry of Leicester and Sale's Chris Jones.