PONTYPOOL go from being the hunters to the hunted in the WRU National Cup when they entertain Cardiff Met tomorrow afternoon.

Pooler host the students in round two of the competition (kick-off 2.30pm) after adding Swansea to their list of Premiership scalps in September.

Leighton Jones' men beat the Whites 29-15 at Pontypool Park, that after being Llanelli, Cardiff, Carmarthen Quins, Cross Keys and Bridgend in recent seasons.

Pooler, who were edged out in the semi-finals by Merthyr in April, have caused plenty of upsets but now need to avoid one to make the last eight.

They are favourites to progress but know it won't be easy against a Cardiff Met side who have won five and drawn one of their Championship fixtures to sit in third, with their solitary off day being a heavy loss at Narberth.

"It has been nice to play Premiership teams in the cup and Cardiff Met play a similar style to them," said head coach Jones, who takes his table-topping team to Cyncoed in the league the following weekend.

"They are a decent team and they pushed us all the way in the league twice last season. They are really well-drilled and everyone knows their jobs, while they play a good brand of rugby. They throw the ball around but now they also front up.

"The days of taking it to them physically are gone – they are students but give as good as they get."

Pooler sit top of the Championship table with seven bonus-point wins from seven with Jones happy at the way his summer recruits have slotted into the team.

"The new boys have settled well and we have looked to play a bit more of a running game this season," said the former hooker.

"As the weeks have gone by the squad has got more comfortable with that and now we are starting to see a few more tries."

Last season Pooler beat Met 26-14 in Gwent and 41-40 in Cyncoed thanks to a last-gasp Matthew Lewis drop goal.

Three teams are already in the hat for the quarter-finals courtesy of the league rejig that saw the Premiership cut to 12 teams.

That led to Aberavon, Llandovery and Llanelli getting byes and they are certain to be joined by another Premiership side when the action gets under way in the capital this evening.

Ebbw Vale pushed Cardiff all the way in the league last Friday but suffered an agonising 12-3 loss to the leaders, with the Blue and Blacks denying them a consolation bonus with a late try.

The Steelmen have a swift chance for revenge on the Arms Park plastic pitch.

Ebbw are trying to stun the holders and Bedwas are looking to upset last season's runners-ups.

Stef Sankala's men have started the Championship superbly with five wins from five and drubbed Tata Steel in round one to earn a tie at Merthyr.

The Ironmen made a sluggish start to the defence of their Premiership crown but, with Dale McIntosh back at the helm after coaching Namibia at the World Cup, are on the up thanks to away wins at Newport and Swansea.

Cross Keys take their minds off a relegation scrap when they travel to Championship rivals Neath.

Morgan Stoddart's men ended their long wait for a league win against Tata last time out, so the head coach will want to see more signs of progress at the Gnoll.

While Pooler are in cup action, promotion rivals Bargoed entertain Ystalyfera in the Championship. The Bulls will cut the gap to three points with a bonus-point win.

Round two fixtures: Cardiff v Ebbw Vale (tonight), Beddau v Carmarthen Quins, Merthyr v Bedwas, Neath v Cross Keys, Pontypool v Cardiff Met (Byes: Aberavon, Llandovery, Llanelli).