REIGNING Principality Premiership champions Ebbw Vale host Cardiff tomorrow (kick-off 1.30pm) in their biggest match since last season’s Grand Final – and skipper Damien Hudd is well aware of just how crucial the fixture is.

A defeat for the Steelmen on New Year’s Eve and the defence of their title will be over before the final round of games prior to the split in the league next weekend.

However, victory would see Ebbw leapfrog their opponents and put them in the box-seat for a top-eight place going into a Gwent derby against Cross Keys on January 7.

Cardiff currently occupy eighth place, one point clear of their Eugene Cross Park hosts.

Ebbw could only pick up a losing bonus point at the end of a nervy tussle with Bedwas on Boxing Day, but their destiny is still very much in their own hands.

“If we beat Cardiff and win a week on Saturday then we will be in the top eight,” said Hudd. “We’ve got two cup finals to play and they are massive for this club.

“It would be a cracking game with Keys if it came down to either us or them in the top eight, but we’ve got to think about beating Cardiff first.

“We don’t care whether we win 3-0 or with a bonus point, we have to beat Cardiff.

“It would be a massive shame if we didn’t make the top eight after winning the league last season, but if you don’t perform then you don’t get the rewards.”

Assessing Ebbw’s display on Boxing Day, Hudd added: “We gave them too many easy scoring opportunities in the first half and they were in complete control in the opening 25 minutes.

“I thought we were the better side by far in the second half and we started playing heads up rugby, but we gave ourselves too much to do.”

This is the first time there has been a split in the league going into the second half of a Premiership campaign.

Aberavon and Merthyr have made the cut, Pontypridd, RGC 1404 and Bedwas also look like they are home and hosed, so five sides – Carmarthen, Llandovery, Cardiff, Ebbw and Keys – are battling it out for the three remaining berths.

When the make-up of the top and bottom halves are finalised each team will play seven more matches before play-offs involving the four best teams in both to determine who finishes as the winners of each mini league.