Llanelli RFC are able to name only 22 players in their squad for the playoff shootout with Pontypool RFC at the Talbot Athletic Ground on Friday evening.
It is hardly ideal for the West Walians to be one man shy heading into a game that has a huge amount riding on it.
They are missing 13 players — 11 because of injury and unavailability and two because of representative calls.
They have a hooker, Taylor Davies, playing at blindside flanker and have pulled in four players on permit, including loose-head prop Craig Thomas from Llangennech.
Head coach Paul Fisher said: “Everyone was aware of the rules surrounding the playoff, but things can change on a weekly or even daily basis.
“Nobody could have accounted for the number of unavailabilities we have for this fixture.
“But it is what it is and we just have to get on with it.
“Injuries are a trade hazard and it means a lot for our players to be selected for representative squads.”
Llanelli have drafted in Tom Prydie, Shaun Evans, Lee Rees and Thomas on permit, with Tom Rogers and Morgan Williams on sevens duty with Wales.
Ryan Conbeer has been released from the Wales Under-20s squad preparing for the Junior World Championship , while Llanelli include six Scarlets players in Prydie, Steff Hughes, Marc Jones, Tom Price, Taylor Davies and Shaun Evans.
There is no Dan Davis nor Paul Asquith, because neither was registered before the January cut-off and neither has played enough league matches to quality for a permit appearance as a regional player.
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But head coach Fisher still has faith in the side being fielded.
“We are on a run of six wins and we couldn’t have afforded to lose any of those games,” he said.
“I’m comfortable with the group of players we have for this fixture and I’m comfortable with the way we’ve prepared.
“There’s still a lot of experience and regional quality in the group.
“Could we have selected stronger? Yes. But taken everything into consideration, it’s still a very good side.”
Pontypool could be forgiven for wondering why they have to head into a playoff after winning three Championship titles on the spin.
Whatever, they are determined to return to the Welsh club rugby big time.
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A contrast in styles will be on offer, with Pooler coach Leighton Jones saying: “We will have to go after them up front and our physicality needs to be right up there. We need to control the gain-line and play to our strengths.
"The forwards have to put in a big shift and we need a typical Pontypool performance — to try and bully a team that wants to play expansive rugby."
The winners will claim a place in the Premiership next season, with the losers figuring in the Championship.
Llanelli: K. Evans; T. Prydie, S. Hughes, J. Lewis (capt), R. Davies; I. Hughes, Gareth George; C. Thomas, M. Jones, R. Thomas, C. Long, T. Price, T. Davies, E. Thomas, S. Evans. Reps: Greg George, R. Thomas, R. Bassett, L. Rees, A. Sutton, L. Hutchings, R. Conbeer.
Pontypool: G. Walsh; L. Lewis, C. Gullis, K. Meek, J. Thomas, ;M. Lewis, M. Luckwell; J. Jeune, D. Hughes, O. Drake, D. Hodge, C. Gregory, S. Matthews, R. Nash, B. Sparks. Reps: C. Hewlett, B. Parry, C. Price, M. Herbert, B. Lampitt, A. Quick, J. Mahoney, M. Jones.
