TWO in-form Gwent sides bid to keep their winning runs going when they clash in the Welsh Premier Division at Eugene Cross Park tonight.

Hosts Ebbw Vale, among the early-season relegation favourites, have struck form with three successive wins since the arrival of top Welsh league points scorer Jason Williams from Brynmawr.

Rightly, they have not put all their improvement down to him, but 51 points in three outings is a major contribution.

The term 'a Jekyll and Hyde team' is much overused, but not in Bedwas' case this season as they have lost all five home games and won four out of five away.

So something has to give and both clubs are expecting a very tough and close battle.

"We have more wins at this stage than we had until Christmas last season and that's very pleasing," said Vale backs coach Byron Hayward.

"But with due respect to Newbridge and Caerphilly, the last two sides we have met, Bedwas followed by leaders Neath and champions Newport represents a big step up and we'll know where we stand after these games.

"Bedwas are a very good side and to go to Carmarthen and win shows they can beat any side on their day, so we expect it will be very tough but, at the same time, a good, open game."

Bedwas coach Steve Law commented: "Our record is a strange one but we are very happy to have won four on the road and we are looking to build on that.

"We will go to Ebbw Vale in buoyant mood but are under no illusions that it will be a very tough match and that we'll have to fight for anything we get, but we have found a bit more consistency, which is the key."

Ebbw Vale: J Rowles, S Horner, K Owen, D Phillips, J Griffin, J Williams, R Jones, H Sparks, C Thomas, B Coutts, G Jones, R Aylett, M Griffin, M Scudamore, M Tuipulotu. Replacements: S Heddington, B Hayward, J Hawker, M Williams, L Davies, R Bowen,, K Faletau. Kick-off 7.30pm.

Bedwas: D Jones, S Sankala, J Welch, A Harrison, N Hill, A Lintern, S Jones, J Tilley, K Jama, J Salter, A Edwards, R Edwards, P Wheeler, C Hill, B Cole. Replacements: D Evans, P McGhee, G Leonard, A Evans, D Mattravers, R Phillips, N Gittings.

Cross Keys, beaten by Llanelli and Neath in their last two games, will be wary entertaining a Swansea side who have blown hot and cold, but will be anxious to regain the winning thread at Pandy Park.

"They had a very good win over Newbridge on Saturday and have some talented young players so we can expect tough opposition," said coach Robert Beale, "but we must look to win our home games,

"I thought we did well against Neath but some crucial decisions went against us while we lost a bit of shape in defence and our kicking game was poor. We have addressed that and hopefully will get back to winning ways."

Keys outside half Scott Mitchell, lucky to escape with just bumps and bruises from a serious car crash last Thursday has recovered in time for Saturday's match.

Cross Keys: D Miles, N Williams, G Turner, D Dark, D Price, S Mitchell, G Betts, J Price, P Maxwell, C Gould D Hudd, W Thomas, R Peebles, T Morris, R Williams. Replacements: O Biddescombe, J Pizey, I George, G Horrigan, D Crimmins, B Watkins, N Cox. Kick-off: 7.15pm.

Newport visit Pontypridd with coach David Rees again bemoaning a fixture list which means clubs go from an intensive period of regularly playing three games in ten days to one where they play two in three weeks.

"We can't afford to relax. We have got to retain intensity, both in training and in the games," said Rees. "It's a huge psychological shift but we must adjust."

Flanker Sam Waldron will be out for 4-6 weeks after tearing thumb ligaments at Carmarthen and Richard Dale has had to have another foot operation which will keep him out until February.

Newport: R Williams, G Chapman, R Payne, R Shorney, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths, B Shelbourne, I Evans, A Brown S Cronk, D Davies, N Edwards, N Kelly, P Williams, M Veater. Replacements: D Pattison, K Crawford, G Robinson, R Jones, M Popham, T Walsh, C Thomas. Kick-off 7.05pm.