It’s only week four of Super Rygbi Cymru and already the race for top spot is hotting up.
Three sides are separated by just a point with Gwent teams Newport and Ebbw Vale both on 17 points, closely followed by Cardiff RFC on 16.
On Saturday, all three Gwent sides are at home with 2.30pm kick-offs.
Arguably the pick of the games sees second hosting third, as Ebbw welcome Cardiff to the Ciner Glass Community Stadium.
Meanwhile, Newport are against Carmarthen Quins and Pontypool welcome RGC.
While the Dragons seniors take on Scarlets in a Welsh URC derby there are plenty of Academy players in action throughout the SRC.
After an impressive debut last time out, Harri Ford starts once again at flyhalf for Ebbw, with the former Wales U20s stand-off partnering ex-Dragons scrumhalf Jon Evans.
Meanwhile, Newport include young fullback Sam Morgan, plus Dragons Oli Woodman and Joe Westwood in the centres along with Will Ford, brother of Harri, at fly-half.
Amongst the replacements are Nick Thomas, Monty Jones and Brogan Leary.
Up the road at Pontypool and there is a full Dragons front row in George Tuckley, Sam Scarfe and Owain James, while Ryan Jones starts at seven along with scrumhalf Carter Pritchard.
Amongst the replacements is another Dragons front rower in hooker Tiaan Hall.
Ebbw Vale: Morgan Rees; Ewan Bowden, Ethan Phillips (c), Dom Franchi, Dafydd Thomas; Harri Ford, Jon Evans; Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Morgan Bosanko, Dylan Bartlett, Curtis Gregory, Alfred Bateman Lloyd, Joe Rees-Weldon, Ryan Jenkins.
Replacements: TBC
Newport: Sam Morgan; Chay Foster-Smith, Oli Woodman, Joe Westwood, Fin Baker; Will Ford, Lucus Welch; Tom Devine, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Josh Skinner, Ethan Phillips, Hunter Ward, Kobi Rees, Ben Roach.
Replacements: Wade Langley, Sam Bixby, Ollie Drake, Nick Thomas, Josh Reid, Monty Jones, Dafydd Buckland, Brogan Leary.
Pontypool: Ellis Davies; Carrick McDonough, Pat Lewis, Kieran Meek, Marcus Jones; Evan Lloyd, Carter Pritchard; George Tuckley, Sam Scarfe, Owain James, Joe Davies, Lance Randall, Scott Matthews (c), Ryan Jones, Ben Williams.
Replacements: Tiaan Hall, Jake Wisniewski, Harri Rock, Buster Bodkin, Luke Daniel, Ellis Lewis, Joel Mahoney, Rakhat Clarkson.
