Lightning and Thunder name teams for round eight

Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder have named their sides for round eight of the Celtic Challenge.

In the battle between third and fourth, Lightning make one change as they host Glasgow Warriors at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday (13:00 GMT) with Catrin Stewart coming in at blind-side flanker.

Lightning have an 11-point lead over fourth-place Warriors and will be hoping to bounce back from their defeat by Irish side Clovers last time out in the quest for a semi-final spot.

Thunder go into their encounter at Parc y Scarlets (12:30 GMT) against league leaders and title-holders Wolfhounds on Saturday with a second successive win of the campaign under their belts, against Edinburgh, last weekend.

Thunder recall Wales lock Gwen Crabb to lead the hosts while Gloucester-Hartpury's Wales co-captain Kate Williams comes in at open-side.

Lightning head coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin said: "A Celtic Challenge play- off place was our target at the start of the campaign and we still have that in our sights and know what we have to do.

"We are still a young side, but we have real Celtic Challenge experience to call on and need to focus on our performance for a full 80 minutes against Glasgow side a place below us in the table.

"Having a Wales international like Gwennan Hopkins on the bench for the first time shows the strength in depth we have, and we know we have a job to do on Saturday."

Thunder head coach Ashley Beck said: "We know playing the team that has won the previous two league titles is a real challenge for us, but it is one that we are prepared for and excited by, especially playing them at home.

"Having Wales co-captain Kate Williams drafted in for this clash gives us a player with international and PWR experience and know how to a young side."

Brython Thunder v Wolfhounds Saturday, 21 February (12:30), Parc y Scarlets

Brython Thunder: A Williams, M Evans, Bluck, Picton-Powell, Seren Singleton; Hanna Marshall, Seren Lockwood; Stella Orrin, Bowden, E Jones, Crabb (capt), John, Metcalfe, K Williams, Aiono.

Replacements: S Williams, L Williams, M Lewis, Wakley, R Davies, Isaac, Wilkinson, Tromans.

Gwalia Lightning v Glasgow Saturday, 21 February (13:00), Ystrad Mynach

Gwalia Lightning: Prothero, C Richards, Webster, Anderson-Thomas, C Lewis; Carys Hughes, Hawkins; Scoble, Reardon, Hill, A Pyrs, Pearce, Stewart, A Owen, King (capt).

Replacements: Wakely, Thomas-Bradley, Cuming, Latham, Hokpins, Bevans, Palmer, Greenway.