EBBW Vale head coach Jason Strange insists there has been no panic at Eugene Cross Park despite their recent wobble, pledging that the Steelmen are rejuvenated ahead of Saturday's trip to fellow Principality Premiership title hopefuls Pontypridd, writes Chris Kirwan.

Ebbw remain second in the table but have seen their buffer eaten into by back-to-back losses to the in-form pair of Cross Keys and Aberavon while they were also knocked out of the Swalec Cup by Ponty.

Nonetheless, the Steelmen are still well placed to qualify for the playoffs in their first season back in the top flight and are set to be boosted at Sardis Road by the returns from injury of lock Ashley Sweet and openside Ronny Kynes while back row forward Cameron Regan could also feature.

"If you had said at the start of the season that we would be second in the table, five points behind Pontypridd then we would have taken that," said Strange.

"We are going there off the back of a couple of defeats and disappointing performances but we are still in a great position.

"Everyone at the club has worked incredibly hard to be where we are, not just this season but over recent years, so there is great excitement about what is coming over the next few months.

"Every team goes through periods where they are disappointed with results but it's how quickly you can get through that. We certainly haven't panicked and the time of our break (after the cup defeat) couldn't have been better."

Ebbw were edged out 22-10 by Ponty at Eugene Cross in the cup a fortnight ago while they also lost the home league encounter 27-19 in November.

"We know that our performance will have to be better but we are not going to Sardis Road with fear," said Strange.

"Against the top teams in the league you need to get your set piece and basics right. Our execution wasn't quite good enough (in the cup defeat) and we need a platform to play off.

"We've prepared well and have learnt a lot from the games against Ponty – we will need to improve at the contact area because they are really strong in that department."

Meanwhile, Ebbw Vale have agreed a provisional date of Saturday, April 11 for their rearranged fixture against Llandovery at Church Bank.

However, the clash, which was postponed because of snow in January, could move again if the Drovers cause a monumental upset against Pontypridd in their Swalec Cup quarter-final at Sardis Road.