CROSS Keys will attempt to take a step towards a Swalec Cup final date in the capital tomorrow evening while Ebbw Vale concentrate on Premiership matters next door to Principality Stadium.

Keys will try again in round two of the tournament after last weekend’s tie at Bridgend was victim of the woeful weather.

A trip to the Brewery Field was already in their diary but the league encounter has been turned into a knockout clash (kick-off 7.15pm).

Keys head west after blowing away a few cobwebs in tricky conditions when a minor miracle was pulled off to play their Foster’s Challenge Cup clash with Newport at Pandy Park.

A try by replacement lock Tom Lampard helped secure a hard-earned 10-6 win in the development competition and head coach Greg Woods hailed a useful encounter.

“We went a bit heavier than normal for the tournament to get some game time in,” he said.

“It was a bit of a risk but worth it because it was a good hit out with a high ball-in-play time and a useful defensive workout against Newport, who were also strong.

“Both teams got a lot from it and now we want to build up some momentum and get a run of games going.

“We had a very poor showing at Llanelli in the league a few weeks back and can’t afford a repeat at Bridgend. We will want to show that performance doesn’t represent what we are about.”

Keys are boosted by the return of full-back Ethan Davies and wing Lloyd Lewis from Wales sevens duty.

While the men from Pandy Park are in cup action, Ebbw and Bedwas are on their travels in the Principality Premiership to Cardiff and Neath respectively.

The Steelmen are in hot form ahead of their trip to the Arms Park (kick-off 7.30pm) and could end the evening as table-toppers.

Ebbw, runners-up last year, have won their last five in the league to get right back in the mix for the play-offs but know they face a stern test against a Blue and Blacks side they beat 34-22 in October.

“We set a clear target at a mid-season review of winning our next five to get ourselves back in contention,” said head coach Nigel Davies.

“We have done that and now the challenge is to maintain that momentum after putting in the hard work to climb the table.

“That will be tough against Cardiff with the (3G) surface presenting its own challenge. They will be looking to take the game to us as we did in the first half at Eugene Cross Park so we have to make sure we turn up mentally and stick to the principles that have served us well recently.”

Bedwas are unlikely to force their way into the battle for the play-offs but head to the Gnoll looking for a league win to keep the momentum going for their Swalec Cup and Foster’s Challenge Cup bids.

Back row forward Deri Mattravers and young Dragons lock Joe Davies return to bolster a squad that will face a hectic schedule when fitting in postponed fixtures.

“The weather means things will be congested and a bit hectic so it will be a test of our squad,” said head coach Steve Law, whose team saw their Swalec Cup tie at Carmarthen Quins washed out last week.

The Welsh All Blacks are yet to register a win in the league and they have avoided defeat just once – their Boxing Day draw with Aberavon. However, it was only 26-16 when the teams met in Gwent in October and Law insists there will be no complacency.

“We will have no preconceptions about what we will face at Neath,” he said. “We have got to get the performance right and that should hopefully get the result.

“We have been on a good run for a while now, we had a blip at Ebbw Vale but we are in a good place. The boys are working hard and we haven’t let them slack off despite the postponements.”

Newport are also in league action this weekend with a home encounter against Aberavon on Sunday.

The Black and Ambers will aim to keep up with the pacesetters after slipping down the table – through no fault of their own.

They have played just one league game since December 5 because of the weather – a 42-28 hammering at Bedwas – and will be looking to avenge a last-gasp defeat at the Talbot Athletic Ground in October when James Garland’s penalty sneaked the spoils

See Saturday’s Argus for a full preview of the Rodney Parade fixture.