Neath head coach Patrick Horgan is concerned that his side will have gone almost three weeks without a match by the time they face Bristol this evening.

Last weekend's postponement at Pontypridd left the All Blacks kicking their heels – and they have not played since their October 31 win at Llanelli.

Horgan said: "The postponement means that we will head into Friday's big, opening British & Irish Cup match against Bristol without a game for nearly three weeks.

That is not really ideal preparation for this exciting new competition – but at least the boys will be well rested and raring to go for one of the biggest challenges to confront us at the Gnoll for some time.

"The British & Irish Cup is a huge challenge for the top six Welsh clubs involved and we are really looking forward to it.

"We have fought long and hard to establish this competition, so I hope all those fans who have mourned the absence of Anglo-Welsh games vote with their feet and get behind this new competition and turn out for the game.

"For our squad, it is a chance to test ourselves against different opponents from different countries with different styles. And it is a chance for the club, the Neath rugby fraternity and Welsh rugby as a whole to showcase ourselves at a higher level – and that can only be good."

Neath currently sit third in the Principality Premiership after winning eight of their opening 11 matches.

In a tight Welsh Premiership, the All Blacks are seven points behind leaders Pontypridd, but only four ahead of seventh-placed Llanelli.

Their three league defeats have come against title rivals Cardiff (home and away) and eighth-placed Wanderers.

But Neath showed their character when they recently fought back from 21-0 down to beat neighbours Swansea 31-27.

The All Blacks' stars this season have included rising Welsh talent Kristian Phillips, who has already reached double figures in the try-scoring charts.