Selection headache for John

Pontypridd, the Welsh National League leaders, have injury problems to overcome before they travel to in-form Llanelli today for a match certain to play a leading part in the race for the title.

Pontypridd will be without their outside-half Neil Jenkins and the lock Mark Rowley, and also have doubts over Neil Eynon, Greg Prosser and Kevin Morgan. Eynon and Prosser are rated no more than 50-50, while Morgan returned from the World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong with a knee injury.

"We will have to take a look at what options are available at training and pick the team accordingly," Dennis John, the Pontypridd coach, said. "I am hoping that Neil and Greg will make it, but Kevin has a problem and both he and Gareth Wyatt are very tired after the flight back from Hong Kong."

Crispin Cormack seems set to take over from Jenkins, but John is unlikely to be able to name the remainder of his team until later today.

Andrew Gibbs, the Llanelli back-row forward, damaged a hamstring during Tuesday's 87-5 beating of Treorchy, but is the Scarlets' only serious doubt.

Cardiff, who lost third place in the table to Llanelli in midweek, will be anxious to reclaim it when they go to Dunvant, who need the points as badly as the Arms Park club, though for a different reason.

If the proposed eight-team First Division is voted in at the Welsh Rugby Union's Special General Meeting on 6 April, four clubs will be relegated and Dunvant are presently fourth from the bottom of the table.

The Swansea Valley club boosted survival hopes with a 34-22 win over Neath last weekend, but still cannot breathe easily, especially as Newport, one place and two points above them, have a match in hand.

Newport can go a long way towards securing their safety by beating the bottom club, Newbridge, whose plight already seems to be beyond hope.