EBBW Vale will attempt to strengthen their grip on a Principality Premiership playoff place when they welcome Cardiff to Eugene Cross Park this afternoon.

The Steelmen have made a stunning return to the top flight and sit second in the table, five points back on unbeaten pace-setters Pontypridd and eight points ahead of fourth-placed Cardiff.

Ebbw were not at their best when beating Bedwas 12-11 at Bridge Field last weekend but got the job done in a tight encounter.

However, a return to the form that beat a strong Llanelli side 31-24 a fortnight ago will be required against the Blue and Blacks, who pushed Ponty hard before going down 14-6 at the Arms Park a week ago.

Ebbw will come face to face with their former centre Shaun Powell while ex-Newbridge and Newport wing Ceri Young starts for the Blue and Blacks along with tighthead Bruce Douglas and flanker Jevon Groves, who were with Newport Gwent Dragons last season.

At the other end of the table one-from-bottom Newport travel to cellar dwellers Aberavon, who are just one point back with a game in hand.

The Black and Ambers are hit by the unavailability of captain and flanker Ollie Griffiths, centre Barney Nightingale, scrum-half Owen Davies and tighthead Alex Jeffries because of Wales Under-20s training commitments ahead of the Six Nations.

Swalec Championship leaders Bargoed do not have the criteria required for promotion but Newport are desperate to avoid the ignominy of being bottom and will need to show more of the fighting spirit that ensured they ended last week’s derby defeat to Cross Keys on the front foot.

They couldn’t force their way over at the death, meaning that Keys start 2015 with hope of sneaking into the playoffs.

The first half of the season was not the best for the men from Pandy Park but the 12-point gap to third-placed Carmarthen Quins is not insurmountable.

However, they have little margin for error and must not slip up on their travels to Bridgend this afternoon. The Ravens sit ninth and were thumped 58-21 by Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets last weekend.

The one-point loss was the latest in a series of narrow defeats for seventh-placed Bedwas, who travel to Neath this afternoon.

Steve Law’s men will need to be at their tenacious best against a Welsh All Blacks side determined to stretch away from the basement.