PONTYPOOL team manager Tony Clark is blunt and straight to the point when he says: "We want promotion."

He does not mix his words and adds: "On our day we can beat anyone." Pooler are three points behind Welsh First Division leaders Aberavon with a game in hand - but there are six teams hot on their heels and tomorrow's visitors to Pontypool Park, Carmarthen, are one of them.

"A victory is even more important as Carmarthen are near us in the table," said Clark. Pontypool have won seven of their last eight games - the blip was a single-point defeat at Aberavon. But Clark has warned his players about the threat of Carmarthen.

"They are a very good side with quality all over the pitch," he said. "They have used their finances well and signed some good, strong players from Dunvant recently.

"But they will have to come here and stop us because we have been playing well. Our line-out, which has been our worry this season, is improving and our rolling maul worked very well against Glamorgan Wanderers on Boxing Day."

The winners of this season's Division One title will play-off against the bottom club in the Welsh/Scottish League.

NEWBRIDGE coach Jonathan Westwood was over the moon to have drawn Division Four West leaders Aberystwyth in the sixth round of the Principality Cup as Newbridge look to progress in the competition.

Newbridge beat Glamorgan Wanderers 46-12 last Saturday in round five and will entertain them in the league tomorrow and after losing 23-15 at Aberavon on Boxing Day they need a win.

Westwood said he was disappointed to lose to Aberavon and hopes the same mistakes are not made against Wanderers.

Westwood said: "The game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests, I am not saying we deserved to win, but we could have snatched a victory." With so many players suffering from 'flu and injury, Newbridge delay naming a squad until just before kick-off.

Newbridge squad: H Lock, J Williams, G Turner, P Collett, M Ridley, A Green, S Pennell, J Williams, M Taylor, M Sage, A Oliver, P Douglas, M Spencer, D Williams, L Davies, P Taylor, M Price, J Ford, A Edwards, G Gladwyn, M Griffin, S Greedy, J Bowd, M Ackerman, D Cooper.

CROSS Keys are struggling - but there is no respite as league leaders Aberavon visit Pandy Park tomorrow.

However, coach David Rees has told his players to keep their tails up, saying: "I've told them to play with a smile on their faces."

Keys are injury-ravaged with seven forwards out tomorrow, but Rees is confident they'll ease their way out of the relegation dog-fight.

"The benchmark for clubs battling relegation is 30 points," said Rees. "And for us that is four wins away. I am pretty confident we can manage that. "We have got to dig deep now and battle hard to get results - but we must remain positive.

"I was disappointed about the manner of our defeat at Rumney as we were leading going into the final couple of minutes. But we don't seem to have the experience to close the game up and hold on."

Keys are missing forwards Dean Gibbs (ankle), Steve Gardner (rib), Matthew Wood (unavailable), Damian Staveley (unavailable), Darren Crimmings (arm), Lee Gardner ('flu) and Jason Rogers (knee).

BEDWAS are looking to regain their early season form against struggling Llanharan at the Bridge Field.

Bedwas were unbeaten in their first 12 games but then suffered five straight defeats. But victory over Glamorgan Wanderers put them back on track and after losing to Bonymaen in the cup, Bedwas want to enter the New Year on a winning run. Forwards coach Ian Gardner said: "Our five straight defeats. were against the better teams in the league like Newbridge, Aberavon and Pontypool.

"After the win against Glamorgan Wanderers we've got our confidence back and we'll certainly looking for a win against Llanharan." Bedwas will have almost a full squad to choose from tomorrow. The only doubt is centre John Welch (shoulder injury).

Blackwood coach Mark Thomas says his side are knuckling down to face Bonymaen at home.

Blackwood lost 22-10 at Llanharan on Boxing Day after winning 14-13 in the cup the previous Saturday.

Thomas said: "I was very disappointed we didn't come away with something more from the league game. We had plenty of chances, but couldn't finish them. "I'm not making any excuses, but we had a pile of injuries."

For this reason, Thomas cancelled training last night to give aching bodies a chance to recover and has named a squad for Saturday's game, though Martin Jones is expected back after a hamstring strain.

Blackwood squad: D Brown, G Rees, D Morris, J To'o, D Starr, C Lay, O Jones, J Price, K Lewis, I Jones, D Hallman, M Tucker, B Morris, C Clements, J Sims, M Jones, G Pritchard, M Vaughan, S Rees, A Peacock, W Sims, D Tomsa.

*PICTURED: Cross Keys flanker Dean Gibbs is one of several players misssing from the Gwent side.