PROMOTION-CHASING Pontypool are relishing the chance to test their Premiership credentials when they host Bedwas in the Swalec Cup tomorrow afternoon (SAT).

Pooler are going great guns in the SSE Swalec Championship as they chase one of four spots for the revamped top flight.

The weather denied them the chance to take a giant step towards a Premiership return when last weekend's trip to fellow hopefuls Bargoed was a washout but Louie Tonkin's side sit third in the table with just two losses to their name, both to title-chasing Swansea.

Now they take a break from the pressures of making sure they earn promotion – failure would mean three years on the outside looking in at the ring-fenced Premiership – to welcome Bedwas to Pontypool Park.

Tomorrow's visitors cruised to a 46-10 success at Bridge Field when the sides met in the competition last February, running in seven tries in a one-sided encounter with Pooler's solitary score a cracking solo effort by wing Nathan Brooks.

However, Pontypool are in much better shape this season and are relishing the chance to lock horns with the sort of opposition that they want to meet week in, week out from September.

"We've got nothing to lose and it's a great chance to see where we are at," said captain Ben Parry.

"Our main aim is to get back into the Premiership but a win against Bedwas would help us in the Championship because we'd get so much confidence from beating a tough side.

"We had gone 11 games unbeaten going into our defeat to Swansea and that was a game that could have gone either way so there is no reason why we can't cause an upset if we are positive.

"Bedwas are a strong side and our set piece has to go well while against Premiership sides you have to take your chances whether out wide or up front."

Bedwas made it through to the quarter-finals in 2015 before losing a tense encounter with Cross Keys 13-7 at Pandy Park and Steve Law doesn't want to fall at the first hurdle in their 2016 bid for the Millennium Stadium.

"A long cup run is something that we've never quite been able to achieve and we want to put that right – getting to the final would be a nice reward for the club and our supporters," said the head coach.

"The cup is always a special occasion and we are really looking forward to Saturday because Pontypool Park is a wonderful place to play rugby and is steeped in history.

"There is no complacency from us and I am sure it won't be the same scoreline as last year. We've just got to make sure we produce a strong performance, then the result will look after itself.

"They are going well in the league and have signed lots of players to prepare for the Premiership so we are expecting an extremely tough challenge.

"It's Championship versus Premiership but if we don't perform to our full potential we will be on the wrong end of the result. Hopefully the team that performs best on the day comes out on top without too much influence from the officials."

Bedwas sit eighth in the Premiership after last weekend's washout at Cross Keys but are eyeing the semi-finals of the Foster's Challenge Cup after winning two of their three games so far in the Gwent group.

Pooler versus Bedwas kicks off at 2.30pm.