It’s the season end and an end of an era as the play-offs for the Indigo Welsh Premiership kick off this weekend.

With the incoming EDC next season this feels like “a line in the sand” in the words of Cardiff Academy manager Gruff Rees.

Cardiff are joined in the play-offs by Ebbw Vale, Newport and table toppers Llandovery.

Drovers pipped Cardiff in the play-of final last year and will host the rematch on Saturday at Church Bank having already finished first in the table and won the cup.

Peter Rees, Chairman of Llandovery RFC, says their recent success both last season and this has been something they were working towards for some time.

“As a club we’ve been building for a number of seasons this is accumulation of lots of hard work on the field by players and management team,” said Rees.

“This year it could be three achievements if things go well, there’ve been a number of close games and overall, it’s been a tough season despite finishing first, it just goes to show the strength of the Premiership this season anyone could beat anyone.

“Cardiff are hitting form at the right time and I expect it to be a close game.

“It’ll be the last game in this format, it’s interesting and it gives us motivation. Last year we gave credit to Cardiff for coming top and we feel there should be a league trophy for finishing top, to win consistently over the course of a season is such an achievement.

“We haven’t won the league, cup and playoffs before so it would be historic but we’re a long way from that yet.”

In its current guise the Welsh Premiership is melting pot of experienced semi-professional players alongside academy and youngsters from regional rugby.

“We’ve got a combination of young and experienced players with a few key individuals and it’s no secret that our game revolves around scrumhalf Lee Rees who’s been one of the best players in the Premiership for a number of years,” said Peter Rees.

“We’ve got other players like Jack Jones our captain and Adam Warren who was at the Dragons but since coming back to us he’s been fantastic, with amazing professionalism.

“Also, youngsters like Macs Page and Jac Davies. Page scored a spectacular try against Aberavon and Davies was on fire, pushing for regional place before he broke his leg.”

Cardiff come into the game on the back of five straight wins, including a 77-7 thrashing of Carmarthen Quins and a 47-24 win over Merthyr in their last two matches, but they lost last time the faced the Drovers, a 26-54 defeat at Cardiff Arms Park.

Gruff Rees is Cardiff’s Director of Coaching and believes that after a difficult season his side are well-placed going into the business end of the season.

“We’re at a point where we’re really excited by it now,” said Gruff Rees.

“It’s been a slog at times, some of the senior challenges last summer and squad composition, squad depth has been challenged.

“Certain boys have gone to the well every week and we’ve had to overplay a core group and rely on local clubs and young players coming through so it has been a real challenge this year and you can’t understate that.

“Fair play to head coach Steve Law, the coaching team and the playing group, to get to this point with a bit of momentum we feel and some identity in the last block.

“We’re coming into a nice patch of form, acknowledging that last year we were top of the league but were stretching by the back-end truth be told and Llandovery pipped us to the post. So it’s nice to go there and have a crack at them.”

Cardiff’s squad for this season included a number of omissions from the team that played Llandovery in the final not 12 months ago, due to retirements, players moving on and in the case of Evan Lloyd, Mackenzie Martin and Cam Winnett, players who are already in the red of Wales.

“People wouldn’t realise the stress there was, pre-season in the summer there were points I was uncertain at some points whether we would get a squad together,” said Gruff Rees,

“The financial challenges to put together that group, being really creative and working differently behind the scenes.

“One of the things in the back of my mind is I thought it’d be a success to get through this season and be competitive before re-setting for the EDC.

“With the help of local clubs, there’s a number of them in any given week just look at our teamsheet, reflecting the ebb and flow and inconsistencies we’ve had.”

Gruff Rees admits Llandovery are “clear favourites” for Saturday’s semi-final and has been impressed by the West Walians’ consistency this season.

“Llandovery and Newport have been class acts this year,” said Gruff Rees.

“We know Llandovery pretty well, they’re a good all-round package, dangerous across the board, the foundations of their game are really strong, in terms of set-piece, they know when to kick and when they do they kick effectively.

“Their first three phases have a lot of variation. Good rugby players within a good structure where they pick the right option and there are always multiple options.

“Unlike a lot of semi-pro and pathway rugby, they finish well, once they make half-breaks they tend to convert an awful lot of them which shows a side that are well-coached.

“We do feel we have a template to negate them and do things with the ball as well, but huge respect for what they’ve done over 12 months, winning last year and deservedly so, then they’ve bounced onwards impressively with a cup victory to boot.”

The former Ospreys coach says the EDC been “a long time coming”.

“I think there’s a relatively clear vision and purpose,” said Gruff Rees.

“It may have gone too far in some ways and I think there’s still going to be challenges in terms of squad composition, auditing and governance but for us it’s exciting and with a calendar that suits our needs.

“I think it’s a little bit of a line in the sand in terms of a split from the community game and it being governed slightly differently now.

“The league has changed dramatically so many times, when I was away I was aghast at so many different East, West, teams, numbers, I think we need a period of solidity and to back this format.”

Peter Rees echoes his namesake’s optimism for the league.

“I’m looking forward to the EDC, it gives the Premiership an opportunity to take a huge step forward and we’re delighted to be a part of it,” said Peter Rees.

“It just depends if they get the balance between competitive rugby and developing youngsters.”