EBBW Vale skipper Damien Hudd reckons Cross Keys would like nothing more than denying the Steelmen a place in the Principality Premiership top eight and the chance to retain their title.

The Gwent rivals meet at Eugene Cross Park tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm) with the hosts looking for a win to cement their position in the top half of the table for the second part of the season.

Defeat for Ebbw could see them relegated to the bottom eight for the rest of the campaign, where they would join the likes of Keys, Newport and Bargoed.

Cardiff will go above the Steelmen if they beat Steve Law’s Bedwas and Keys get the better of Nigel Davies’ reigning champions.

“Ebbw Vale and Keys have got a fierce rivalry and this game is as big as the play-off semi-final a couple of seasons ago,” said Hudd.

“We haven’t got a great record against Keys over the last few years and they’ve probably dominated us more than any other side has.

“We’ve been the top sides in Gwent in recent seasons and both of us have been challenging for the league.

“This is a massive game because if we win we’re in the top eight but lose and we have to rely on Cardiff not winning – that’s something we don’t want to do.

“We’ve been lucky enough to get one more chance to finish in the top eight and we need to take it.”

He added: “Keys would like nothing more than to spoil our party, although we would be the same if the shoe was on the other foot.

“There is no doubt that Keys want to beat us and put us into the bottom eight with them.”

Should Ebbw get the chance to defend their crown then, according to Hudd, they must improve in almost all facets of the game.

“The only thing that has been consistent is our scrum,” he added. “We’ve been misfiring in other areas really.

“We’re not playing to our full potential and have only dominated in two games, Pontypridd away and Carmarthen Quins at home.

“We need to play how we did then to have a chance of beating Keys.”

Aberavon, Merthyr, Pontypridd, Bedwas, RGC 1404, Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins are guaranteed a top eight place going into tomorrow’s fixtures, the last before the split.

Keys, Newport, Llanelli, Bridgend, Neath, Swansea, Bargoed and either Ebbw or Cardiff will form the bottom eight.

The top two, Aberavon and Merthyr, go head to head at the Talbot Athletic Ground to see who will be top before the points are reset to zero.

Old foes Neath and Swansea meet at the Gnoll, Pontypridd head north to RGC 1404, Carmarthen host Bridgend and Llandovery visit Llanelli.