EBBW Vale have got used to being table-toppers over the last four years but few expected them to be on top of the pile this season.

The Steelmen have made their long-awaited return to the Principality Premiership after a quartet titles on the spin, two in Division One East and two in the reformed Swalec Championship.

Ebbw's record over those years in the second tier read played 96, won 88, lost 8. They scored 501 tries and racked up 429 match points from a possible 480. Only a surprise last day slip-up against Narberth prevented them from an invincible season in 2013/14.

They were a Premiership side playing in the second tier and showed that by beating Newport, Swansea, Carmarthen Quins and Cardiff in the Swalec Cup.

But the feeling was that they would find things tougher on their return to the top flight, the belief was that the weekly slog would lead to their squad slipping up.

It has been harder but the Steelmen have been better.

They have taken huge strides towards a place in the playoffs by beating fellow contenders Cardiff and Carmarthen Quins at Eugene Cross Park over the past fortnight.

The second of those successes saw them leapfrog champions Pontypridd into top spot, albeit after playing two games more.

"We set a target of the playoffs at the start of the season and the 11 other sides in the Premiership probably thought that we wouldn't be near that," said Damien Hudd, the lock from Nantyglo who is Ebbw's captain and talisman.

"It hasn't surprised me that we are up there, I knew that we had the work ethic and team spirit to be successful in the Premiership.

"The backbone of our side has been there since day one and it's an easy team to captain because everybody wants to do their job and fight for their teammates.

"But we aren't getting ahead of ourselves and it's a bit artificial to be top because Pontypridd have games in hand. We're only at 75 per cent of our potential and there's more to come."

Ebbw last had a title push in 2007 when Alex Codling's formidable side finished second to Neath, just two points back on the champions.

Things went on the slide when the former England lock left, culminating in a grim relegation season in 2009/10 when they won just five games and scored 23 tries in 26 games.

The club had to rebuild and repair relationships with neighbouring clubs. It's easy to say now but relegation did the Steelmen the power of good.

"It allowed reflection on what we had been doing on and off the field and the space to make changes," said chairman Jonathan Jones, born and bred in Ebbw Vale and a long-time Steelman.

"I am enormously proud of what we have achieved because what I saw when I came in (after relegation) wasn't pretty.

"Sometimes people just need something to rally around and I was convinced that if we were successful then people would get involved in the club and that's been the case.

"The mantra is simple. The club is run as a business, we know the budget, have the right people in position and give them room to do their job.

"We work hard off the field to be as professional as we can. What we tell the players we are going to do, we do.

"I look at Swansea City as a model to follow. They were at the depths of despair but local people got involved at the club and now they pick the right people to do the job within a budget."

The on-field revival was started by head coach Neil Edwards and the former Ebbw lock passed the baton to current boss Jason Strange when he left for a role with Neath.

In their relegation season the club used a staggering 59 players with many of them travelling to Eugene Cross Park from west Wales but that changed in Division One East.

Jones said: "We built around a built around a nucleus on Blaenau Gwent boys because the badge means something to them. We have mainly local players and a community feel.

"They are a tight-knit group and that shows on the pitch. I am not surprised that they are doing so well after seeing what they put into pre-season training.

"There are no energy-sappers in the squad and they have an all-for-one approach and a winning mentality.

"They are going to keep their heads down and keep working hard and the same applies off the pitch."