CAPTAIN Damien Hudd believes the winner of tonight’s repeat of last season’s Principality Premiership final between Ebbw Vale and Pontypridd will be on the brink of qualification for the play-offs.

The Steelmen entertain a Ponty side (kick-off 7.15pm) who they famously dismantled 38-12 at Sardis Road to win the title last May.

The champions have won two of three in Tier One, beating Aberavon and Carmarthen Quins after losing to Bedwas, while tonight’s visitors are two from two.

If Ebbw can repeat their superb 41-25 success from when the sides met at Sardis Road in October then they will be within touching distance of a precious top-four berth.

But with a lull until April in the frustratingly stop-start league schedule, talisman lock Hudd is desperate for a crucial victory.

“Whoever wins this has got one foot in the top four. I think maybe 20 points will do it,” said the skipper, whose side are currently on 10.

“We won down in Ponty earlier in the season and got a bonus point, but I think they were struggling at the time. They are top of the league at the moment and through to the semi-finals of the WRU National Cup, so they are a totally different animal to play against now.

“We’ve got a few boys out with injuries and Jonathan Davies through suspension.”

That suspension comes after the lock was banned by Ebbw for spitting at a Merthyr opponent in the 13-3 cup loss at the start of the month.

Davies, who was red carded along with the Ironmen’s Osian Davies after an unsightly melee, faces a Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary hearing and the promising forward, who has been told by the club that a repeat will lead to his sacking, apologised.

“What I did has no place in sport, straight away I knew that I had messed up and was disappointed in myself,” he said in a statement.

“The incident happened in full view of my family leading to their embarrassment and shame in my actions.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and what I did was completely out of order and will not happen again. Despite being a heat of the moment reaction, spitting has no place in sport.

“Having really enjoyed the reception from the supporters at the club, it is only right that having apologised to the coaches, captain and players I give the same respect to the supporters at the club.”

Ebbw have just one home fixture left in the regular season after tonight’s game, the visit of Merthyr on the final weekend, and must travel to north Wales for the second time in 2016/17 to face RGC 1404 before a trip to Llandovery.