Rugby Union: McIntosh puts Neath to test: Robert Cole on this afternoon's Heineken League matches

THE return to big-time action of Dale McIntosh, Pontypridd's New Zealand-born No 8, could spell trouble for Neath when they put their unbeaten run in the Heineken League on the line at Sardis Road today.

Only Pontypridd have caused Neath any kind of embarrassment in the First Division so far, registering a draw in their opening fixture at The Gnoll, and unless they can at least repeat that result it could end their hopes of breaking into the top four this winter.

The match is equally important to Neath, chasing a second title, but who find themselves in second place in the table behind Swansea, despite an unbeaten run of 10 games.

The reason may well be because they have played a game fewer but, as the league season reaches the official half-way stage today, Neath know they cannot afford to drop any more points to Pontypridd.

McIntosh lasted just over an hour of the 27-5 win over Aberavon last weekend, his first league outing since September, before departing with flu, but expects to be fighting fit to stem the flow of the Neath pack.

'We faded in the second half against Aberavon because a number of the players had been suffering with the flu. Our problem was that we tried to complicate things too much and we should learn to put teams like that to bed,' Dennis John, the Pontypridd coach, said.

'We know it's going to be difficult to upset Neath's momentum, but it's certainly not impossible. We gave an excellent account of ourselves at The Gnoll, but let the game slip away from us and we can't afford for that to happen again.'

The table-topping Swansea will be without their Lions centre, Scott Gibbs, who is on duty with Crawshay's at the Dubai Sevens, but should be able to hold onto their top spot at home to Newbridge.

Newport get the chance of revenge over Dunvant, who beat them on the opening day of the season, and will hope to secure the signing of Colin Stephens, Llanelli's former Wales outside-half, by then. Newport have been negotiating all week with Stephens and he was expected to sign last night.