PONTYPOOL are 80 minutes away from a return to the Principality Premiership with boss Leighton Jones hoping his pack can "bully" dangerous Llanelli in a winner-takes-all clash.

WRU National Championship winners Pooler face the west Walians at Aberavon on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm) for the final place in next season's revamped 12-team top flight.

Pontypool have won three titles on the spin but still have to win a promotion/relegation play-off against Llanelli, who were leapfrogged by Bridgend last weekend, to earn a return to the Premiership.

Jones' men have proven their pedigree with WRU National Cup triumphs against this weekend's opponents, Cardiff, Carmarthen Quins, Cross Keys and Bridgend in recent seasons.

Now they must produce the goods against a team likely to be bolstered by a handful of professionals as Llanelli have fielded the likes of Tom Prydie, Steff Hughes, Rhys Fawcett, Tom Price, Ed Kennedy and Tom Phillips this season.

After being impacted by Scarlets injuries in the opening months, Llanelli finished the campaign strongly with six straight wins and it promises to be a contrast of styles at the Talbot Athletic Ground.

South Wales Argus:

"Llanelli had a lot of boys called up because of Scarlets injuries but they have found a bit of form," said head coach Jones.

"They are a quality team with dangerous players – they have a big attacking threat and like to play with speed.

"That means our contact area work has to be good and we need to keep hold of the ball.

"We will have to go after them up front and our physicality needs to be right up there. We need to control the gain line and play to our strengths.

"The forwards have to put in a big shift and we need a typical Pontypool performance – to try and bully a team that wants to play expansive rugby."

South Wales Argus:

Pooler are hoping that experienced forwards Danny Hodge, Scott Matthews, Rob Nash and Mike Herbert will be fit after sitting out the league finale.

They have won 65 of 66 Championship games since missing out on promotion in 2016 but this is no ordinary fixture.

"This is a massive game, our biggest in three years," said Jones. "There is a lot of pressure on both teams and it will come down to who copes with it the best.

"We've been under pressure in cup games and the boys have enjoyed the underdog tag, so hopefully it will be the same again."