THE SECRET of success is simplicity for Pontypool as they bid to avoid a third relegation dogfight on the spin.

It may seem silly to be talking about pressure before a whistle has been blown but Pooler need to get off to a winning start when they host Bedwas tomorrow.

Their first foes are likely to be with them in the bottom half of the table come April and there can be no repeat of last season’s 11 succcesive defeats at the start of the campaign A good first few months could well have Pooler in good shape come the run-in, especially if they can pick up the dazzling form that they showed at the end of 2009/10.

It was a crushing 44-29 victory over their rivals from the Dragons region that filled Pontypool with belief that led to them condemning Ebbw Vale to the drop.

They scored five tries in a breathless first half on that occasion but a mere four-pointer tomorrow would suit head coach James Chapron just fine.

“We need to make sure we stick to our structure and it is a simple one,” he said. “A message that we drum home to the players is that it is better to be good at three things than average at ten.

“We want them to go out there and execute what we have worked on and we will be there or thereabouts if we do that.

“We know that there is going to be a massive physical confrontation because Bedwas have recruited well up front. We need to match them there.

“The two teams were in two different places at the end of last season – we desperately needed the win while Bedwas were tailing off – so it will be a much closer game.

“A derby first up brings its own pressures for players and coaches but pre-season has gone well and we are all looking forward to it.”

Wing Max Woodward, prop Dan Barlow and back row Luke Dyckhoff are set for their Pooler debuts while Nick Wakley and Josh Faletau will also make their Pooler bows if they get off the bench.

Pontypool: G O’Driscoll, M Woodward, P Price, C Macey, D Robinson, S Connor, A Quick, D Barlow, R Buckley, N Blake, R Bowen, D Critchley, G Morris (captain), C Trayhern, L Dyckhoff. Replacements: C Morgan, T Hancock, N Wakley, J Jeune, C Attwell, J Faletau, R Wilson.