Pembrokeshire rugby previews for Saturday, September 7th (2.30pm):

WRU Championship:

Tata Steel v Narberth

Narberth have been nothing if not consistent these past few seasons, to the point where an opening day trip to Tate Steel will not intimidate them.

And head coach Sean Gale, manager Chris James and the staff seem to have largely kept faith with the team that again challenged at the top end last season.

Elliot Dawe is one new face on the win while Jake Baker starts in second row, but aside from that it's a familiar line up to go to Port Talbot.

Narberth: Nick Gale, Elliot Dawe, Joe Hutchings, Jake Jenkins, Dafydd Pritchard, Jonathan Rogers, Rhys Lane, Daniel Jacobs, Rhodri Owen, Tom Slater, Jake Baker, Alex Jenkins, Rich Rees (capt), Tom Powell, Roy Osborn. Replacements: Dan Smith, Tom Kaijaks, Steff Phillips, Lewys Gibby, Ianto Griffiths.

Division One West:

Aberystwyth v Pembroke

When these two last met it was in the 2017/18 Pembs KO Cup final, a game Aber won.

But then there was a two division gap between the teams, now they line up as equals.

The Scarlets have had a surreal two seasons with back to back promotions and proved a lot of people wrong last year when they went up from Two West at the first attempt.

Geraint Lewis and Kyle Davies have a big squad at their disposal, with a few coming up from the youth team this year to add to it. Life is about to get harder but they are capable of competing at this level.

Both teams have big ball carriers and exciting runners behind. Could be quite a game to start for both.

Crymych v Llangennech

Crymych are another team with a number of young players emerging but are well accustomed to Division One rugby.

Randal Williams' side have been prone to starting inconsistently in recent seasons though so the Preseli Men will be keen to get away well this time around.

A home game with Llangennech represents a tough start and it's could be one of those the Preseli Men have to dig in deep to win. Which they're perfectly capable of doing.

Whitland v Gowerton

The Borderers continued to make progress last season by capturing the KO Cup and securing a top half finish in Division One after promotion, and seemed to have kept the majority of their squad.

Jac Howells has come onto the wing and Jack Mason is tied up with Ironman Wales preparation, but the 20 has a familiar look to it.

Nico Setaro has stepped up to player-coach alongside Gareth Bennett while the ageless Dai Ebsworth again covers on the bench, with hooker Marc Jones starting his third consecutive season of captaincy.

Whitland: James Stephenson, Jac Howells, Gino Setaro, Josh Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, Nico Setaro, Josh Thomas (2), Aaron Mayne, Marc Jones (capt), Tomos Evans, Courtney Bowman, Ben Kirk, Jamie Thomas, Ryan Morgan, Scott Buirds. Replacements: Gethin Lewis, Tom Finucane, James Lewis, Dai Ebsworth, Danny Evans.

Division Two West:

Kidwelly v Fishguard

Fishguard grew as last season went on and with James Griffiths back for the current campaign, should be stronger again.

Chris Shousha is continuing as captain and that big cup win over Llangwm showed what their young back line to do when given time and space.

Last season they started off by losing several tight games, a habit they addressed as time went on.

Kidwelly came down last season so The Seagulls won't be 100% sure what to expect, but they'll know just how big an early win on the road could be.

Milford Haven v Pontarddulais

Now the real test starts for Milford Haven after finally winning Division Three West A last season.

They've brought Nathan Banner in from Neyland and Sam Dolling is set to be available more regularly, and Aaron Ebsworth starts on the win tomorrow on permit from Whitland.

The Mariners had a ding dong battle with Tenby in the KO Cup and although they eventually lost, it was exactly the sort of intense 80 minutes they needed ahead of this.

The majority of their games will be harder and tighter than the last campaign, and skipper Dan Birch and coaches Steve Martin and Nathan Williams will be keen to make an early mark with a win here over Pontarddulais. And any scoreline would do.

Milford Haven: Jamie Lewis, Lee Riley, Dan Jenkins, Dan Birch (capt), Aaron Ebsworth, James Trueman, Danny McClelland, Darren Lewis, Luke Ryan, Adam Rees, Nathan Banner, Brandon Cooper, Dai Sweeney, Ryan Mansell, Sam Dolling. Replacements: Nathan Williams, David Round, Zac Davies, Gareth Cheshire, Steve Martin.

Nantgaredig v Tenby United

Tenby perhaps took a step back with relegation last season, but it has given them a chance to take two forward given their youthful outlook.

Coach Jonathan Evans has vowed to out faith in young and local players and in that game at The Obs No 10 Harry Rossiter was one of those to show his potential.

He starts tomorrow as Lloyd Thomas moves into the centre, for what will be a difficult trip to Nantgaredig.

The Seasiders did manage to kick their losing habit towards the end of last season, and it is important they get some positive results in the opening month. When you are building as a squad, wins always help breed belief and confidence.

Tenby United: Matt Davies, Jack Gooding, Ben Pugh, Lloyd Thomas, Joe Owen, Harry Rossiter, Dan Thomas, Ethan Morgan, Dan Allan, Rob Luly, Huw Evans, Tom Barrass, Luke Dedman (capt), Jim Brace, Jack Broadhurst. Replacements: Rob Clarke, Harry Bolton, Luke Hansford, Dan Wainwright, Connor Ennis.

Division Three West A:

Lampeter Town v Pembroke Dock Quins

Things seem a lot more positive at Bierspool compared to the end of last season, with Jack Price having returned and far more players seemingly available and training.

This still a tough trip first up against a Lampeter team who came across from Division Three West B (where they finished eighth) last season and are something of an unknown quantity to teams in this league.

Kevin Bratcher is back as captain for the Quins and if they could get a result here, it really would send out a message that they mean business again. 

Laugharne v Aberaeron

Ironically these two meet first up, after their thrilling game towards the end of last season ultimately decided the title race.

It was Laugharne who won it in the dying seconds, allowing Milford Haven to edge out Aberaeron at the top of the league, and I dare say it will be fresh in the mind of the visitors.

Here are two sides capable of challenging for the league title again so this should be good. Aberaeron cruised past Cardigan 68-0 in the KO Cup last week so come in with momentum.

Lagharne too had a decent run out, drawing 19-19 with Cefneithin, and Rhys Thomas leads them this season after long term captain Carl Smith stepped down end of last season.

Only the first day, but the result here could prove crucial.

Llangwm v Cardigan

Both sides had a rough time last weekend, Cardigan with that KO Cup defeat to Aberaeron while in the same competition, Llangwm lost 81-6 at home to Fishguard.

They too were depleted though and I expect both sides to field very different line ups tomorrow.

The Wasps made a lot of progress last season and will be up for this. It's a very tricky trip for the Teifisiders.

Llanybydder v Tregaron - postponed.

Neyland v Haverfordwest - postponed.

St Davids v St Clears

The 'battle of the Saints' renews tomorrow.

St Davids not have long serving player Gethin Bateman in charge and showed plenty of spirit when losing to Pembroke in the KO Cup, before another decent run out with Narberth 2nds.

Prop Dan Murphy will be in his first game as captain and they welcome St Clears, back in this division after relegation last season.

Whether the visitors challenge to go back up will depend on how many of their players they've kept, but the club now has a youth team in place which is a good sign.

They won heavily on their last visit to St Davids two years ago, but the home side will be out to make life as difficult as possible tomorrow.