Thunder and Lightning name Celtic Challenge sides

Gwen Crabb has been capped 28 times for Wales

Wales' two Celtic Challenge sides have announced their matchday squads for round nine of the competition.

Gwalia Lightning host top of the table Wolfhounds knowing victory would put them in with a shout of challenging for the title with just two rounds to play.

There are four points separating third-place Lightning with the two Irish sides - Clovers and Wolfhounds - above them.

At the other end of the table, Brython Thunder will be looking to leapfrog Glasgow when they travel to Scotstoun.

Gwalia Lightning v Wolfhounds

Venue: Ystrad Mynach Date: Saturday 1 March Kick-off: 12:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online.

Lightning have made three starting changes from the side that beat Glasgow 31-19 last weekend.

Flanker Lily Terry joins captain Bryonie King and Catrin Stewart in the back row, with Gwennan Hopkins ruled out with a calf strain.

Prop Cana Williams starts with Maisie Davies and Molly Wakely in the front row, while Paige Jones and Alaw Pyrs are named as locks.

Courtney Greenway joins Jenny Hesketh and Caitlin Lewis in the back line.

Kelsie Webster and Molly Anderson-Thomas continue their centre partnership, as do half-backs Sian Jones and Carys Hughes.

"We are under no illusions of the task ahead of us against Wolfhounds, a side full of Irish internationals, but we are at home and shown we can be competitive at this level," said Lightning head coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin.

"With two games to go in the Celtic Challenge, it's about us and what we want to achieve, and we should take confidence from the way we have played so far in the competition."

Line-ups

Gwalia Lightning: Jenny Hesketh; Courtney Greenway, Kelsie Webster, Molly Anderson-Thomas, Caitlin Lewis; Carys Hughes, Sian Jones; Maisie Davies, Molly Wakely, Cana Williams, Paige Jones, Alaw Pyrs, Lily Terry, Catrin Stewart, Bryonie King (capt).

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Dali Hopkins, Jenni Scoble, Erin Jones, Lottie Buffery-Latham, Katie Bevans, Freya Bell, Rhodd Parry.

Wolfhounds: Amy Larn; Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Eve Higgins, Leah Tarpey, Katie Corrigan; Dannah O'Brien, Jade Gaffney; Niamh O'Dowd, Maebh Clenaghan, Christy Haney, Fiona Tuite, Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair, Claire Boles (capt), Molly Boyne, Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Kelly Burke, Tricia Doyle, Sophie Mcallister, Alma Atagmen, Poppy Garvey, Katie Whelan, Lauren Farrell McCabe, Anna Doyle.

Glasgow Warriors v Brython Thunder

Venue: Scotstoun Stadium Date: Saturday 1 March Kick-off: 15:45 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online.

Thunder have made eight changes as they look to bounce back from a 16-try defeat to Clovers last time out.

Seasoned Wales international Gwen Crabb has been drafted in from Gloucester-Hartpury to bolster the forwards, with captain Natalia John still sidelined by injury.

Jess Rogers returns to lead the side at number eight and is joined in the back row by Danai Mugabe and Lucy Issac.

Props Stella Orin and Cadi-Lois Davies pack down with Chloe Gant in the front row.

Niamh Terry is named at fly-half and partners scrum half Seren Singleton at half-back, while Hannah Bluck and Gabby Healan are preferred as centre.

Hannah Lane starts at full-back with Ellie Tromans moving to the wing alongside Eleanor Hing.

"We are a young and exciting squad who have showed real resilience and character at this level against sides full of international rugby players," said Thunder head coach Ashley Beck.

"Glasgow are tough opposition on their home patch, but we are ready for the challenge and looking forward to putting in a performance to represent the jersey."

Line-ups

Glasgow Warriors: Poppy Mellanby; Abi Evans, Nicole Flynn, Briar McNamara, Orla Proctor; Ceitidh Ainsworth, Mairi McDonald (capt); Poppy Fletcher, Megan Hyland, Eilidh Fleming, Aisha Zameer, Kate Yeomans, Freya Walker, Eilidh Macgilvray, Emily Courbrough.

Replacements: Aicha Sutcliffe, Ailie Tucker, Alex Ward, Rowann Sinclair, Sophie Price, Rianna Darroch, Millie Warren, Roma Fraser.

Brython Thunder: Hannah Lane; Ellie Tromans, Hannah Bluck, Gabby Healan, Eleanor Hing; Niamh Terry, Seren Singleton; Stella Orrin, Chloe Gant, Cadi-Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Gwen Crabb, Danai Mugabe, Lucy Isaac, Jess Rogers (capt).

Replacements: Rosie Carr, Lowri Williams, Katie Carr, Catrin Jones, Anna Stowell, Bethan Adkins, Hanna Marshall, Ffion Davies.