Llandovery were not involved in last week’s first round of the Premiership Cup, having been given a bye into the second round alongside Carmarthen Quins and Swansea, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Drovers await this week’s draw to know their second round opponents.

Aberavon, Bridgend, Cardiff, Ebbw Vale and Merthyr had first round wins and progressed into what is to all intents and purposes the Cup quarter-finals.

The draw will not, however, be at the forefront of Llandovery minds this week as they resume their Indigo Premiership campaign in entertaining Cardiff under the Church Bank lights on Thursday night (KO 7:30pm).

The last time they met the capital city club was back in May in the Premiership final at Cardiff Arms Park where they produced their top form in winning 24-8.

Two tries from livewire scrum half Lee Rees and 14 points from the boot of full back Jack Maynard brought home the bacon in conclusive style to the delight of the large band of travelling supporters.

The Drovers played Cardiff four times last year in Cup and league and won on three occasions against a side that finished top of the regular Premiership table.

Of the two sides, Llandovery have started the new season far the better with three bonus point wins over Carmarthen Quins, Merthyr and Pontypridd, scoring 16 tries in the process. Cardiff fell to a surprise home defeat at the hands of Ebbw Vale, have drawn with Pontypridd ,beaten RGC and are no better than in an unaccustomed eighth place in the Premiership table.

The Drovers will ignore such statistics as they know full well that Cardiff will soon be climbing the table, an expectation confirmed on Saturday when the Blue and Blacks outplayed old rivals Newport 38-15 in the first round of the Cup.

The Drovers are expected to field the majority of the players who played in last year’s Premiership final, Cardiff less so but a close encounter is on the cards as the home side strive for a fourth consecutive league win in front of the S4C cameras.

1st Round Premiership Cup results:

Aberavon 20 - Pontypool 10

Bridgend 35 - RGC 13

Cardiff 35 - Newport 18

Neath 19 - Ebbw Vale 40

Pontypridd 27 - Merthyr 30