THIS year's Principality Premiership final looks likely to be played at Sardis Road once again but the race to join Pontypridd in the playoffs is hotting up with Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys and Bedwas all in the mix.

Today's game of the day takes place at Ponty as the Steelmen attempt to get revenge for last month's Swalec Cup defeat at Eugene Cross Park.

Ebbw have had a slight dip in form, losing all three games in February, but it's all relative and it should be noted that the second-placed team lost to in-form sides in Keys, Aberavon and Ponty.

Jason Strange's men are still in a good position to make the playoffs and their form on the road holds the key. Today's encounter at Sardis Road is followed by Eugene Cross Park clashes with Bridgend and Bedwas before three away games to finish at Llandovery, Llanelli and Cardiff.

Ebbw move Carl Meyer from midfield to full-back and while the game has come just too soon for influential flanker Ronny Kynes' thumb, they are boosted by the return of Gareth Williams for his first start since suffering a broken leg at Llanharan in December 2013.

Cross Keys have climbed to third thanks to a superb run of six wins in seven and need to avoid a slip against Llandovery at Pandy Park.

Greg Woods' men were runners-up last year after finishing third and another strong performance is needed against the Drovers to stay ahead of the chasing pack with a crunch televised clash at fourth-placed Carmarthen Quins looming in a fortnight's time.

Keys are without influential centre Leon Andrews because of a hand injury so the captaincy passes to his midfield partner Phil Williams. Jack Condy gets a chance to impress at number eight.

Sxith-placed Bedwas are still in touch, although Steve Law's men cannot afford many, if any, slip-ups as they have played more games than their rivals.

Today they host Bridgend and it promises to be a tricky game despite the Ravens' struggles at the basement.

Bridgend have shown signs of life recently, taking a hard-earned losing bonus point from Llandovery, winning at Rodney Parade and becoming the first Welsh side to lower Ponty's colours this season.

Bedwas have suffered a huge injury blow with wing Rory Budina, who has scored 13 tries this season and was the league's top try scorer in 2013/14, set to miss the rest of the campaign with a torn bicep.

Bottom club Newport will hope that the Ravens come a cropper at Bridge Field and that they can damage the playoff ambitions of the old enemy Cardiff.

Craig Warlow has taken over from Sven Cronk as head coach until the end of the season and has just six games to lift the Black and Ambers off bottom, a position that is unwanted even if there is no relegation.

Newport are boosted by Wales Under-20s releasing centre Barney Nightingale, scrum-half Owen Davies and tighthead Alex Jeffries from Six Nations duty while Wales sevens international Luke Morgan makes just his third appearance of the season, and first since the autumn, on the wing.

Corey Rees makes his first start at fly-half since September while Adam Frampton moves from lock to the back row.

Ebbw Vale (at Pontypridd): C Meyer, T James, N Preece, A Jones, O Williams, D Langdon, R Downes, J Lavender, R Francis, R Sevenoaks, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, R Clarke, C Regan, G Williams. Replacements: TBA

Cross Keys (v Llandovery): J Cordy-Redden, E Jones, N Williams, P Williams (captain), N Trowbridge, E Davies, J Leadbeater, R Cornock, D Hughes, C Gould, D Hodge, T Lampard, R Tucker, S Matthews, J Condy. Replacements: TBA

Bedwas (v Bridgend): H Thomson, M John, M Callow, A Pinches, L Hudd, R Powell, L Crane, D Preece, A Rees, J Mills, P Rees, J Walker, S Grainger (captain), J Sawyer, D Mattravers. Replacements: R Hutcherson, B Toms, M Pettit, J Richards, D Crimmins, T Rowlands, J Maynard, S Thomas

Newport (v Cardiff): G O'Driscoll, L Morgan, B Nightingale, D Franchi, E Frewen, C Rees, O Davies, J Greenfield, Andrew Brown, A Jeffries, Adam Brown (captain), D Partridge, A Frampton, R Jenkins, S Feehan. Replacements: D Rogers, D Pattison, J Monck, R Gibbon, E Whitson, A Quick, N Edwards, L ap Myrddin.