SWANSEA will wait on a couple of fitness tests ahead of tonight's crunch Welsh Premiership title clash with Neath (7.15) as they bid to cope with a growing injury list.

The second-placed Whites meet leaders Neath at The Gnoll in a match that will go a long way to deciding who clinches the league championship.

Richard Webster's side trail their hosts by a point having played a game more, and require victory to re-ignite their title push with just five league matches remaining.

Problems

But their recent fitness problems continue with Sam Lewis (ankle), Rhys Jones (knee) and Hanno Dirksen (groin) definitely ruled out through injury.

Tim Evans and Ben Lewis are others unavailable, while Nicky Thomas is away on Wales sevens duty and Steffan Jones and Nicky Jones will have late tests on respective leg and back problems.

"I think we'll be okay, but we'll probably be picking from a bare 22," said team manager Ian Hopkins. "It's a difficult situation going into a very important match."

But Swansea have been boosted by their last result, a 37-15 win over Pontypridd that followed back-to-back defeats to Newport and Pontypool.

Selection

"Apart from our selection problems we're back to where we were," said Hopkins. "That win has given us confidence that we can go out and do the job.

"It's a massively import- ant game because if we lose we're going to make things very difficult for ourselves.

"We've got to go there and be on our mettle, but we're more than capable of getting a result."

Full-back Kevin Morgan, centre Nathan Brew, skipper Arwel Thomas, scrum-half Kevin Farrell, prop Vinny Lott and lock Neil Edwards are all set to return as Neath look for the victory that would see them place one hand on the Premiership trophy.

They head into the game after a 27-10 win over Cross Keys last Friday and head coach Patrick Horgan is looking forward to locking horns with old rivals.

"Neath against Swansea is always a big attraction on our fixture list and one we always look forward to," he said.

"There is a long way to go, but it is given added spice by our current placings at the top of the Premiership. Our organisation and discipline will need to be spot on because Richard Webster will have Swansea right up for this one."

Neath: from G. King, K. Morgan, K. James, A. Jenkins, N. Brew, S. Thomas, W. Mitchell, G. McCarthy, R. Smith; A. Thomas (capt), K. Farrell, R. Jones; A. Lott, E. Lewis, G. Price, A. James, J. Reeves, M. Jones; E. Evans, P. Sidoli, N. Edwards, H. Pugh, C. Price, M. Collins, G. Gravell, L. Evans, A. Whitney

Swansea: TBC