WARFARE of a pyscological nature is what awaits Ebbw Vale in Pau this weekend as the Steelmen travel to the south of France trying to reach the semi-final of the Parker Pen Shield for the first time.

After beating Pau 29-3 in the first leg of the quarter-final tie at Rodney Parade on Monday, Ebbw Vale will take a 26-point advantage into tomorrow's match and Vale full-back Richard Davies knows the Steelmen need to attack from the off.

Having joined Vale this season from Rugby, Davies' all-round game had attracted the attentions of Ebbw's director of rugby Ray Harris and after making the number 15 shirt his own this season it is easy to see why.

With a natural attacking flair and a smooth pass, Davies is one of the most talented players in the Vale back line and has been a reliable last line of defence this season.

But tomorrow's match will be only his second on French soil and he expects a battle royal against the Basque side in front of their passionate crowd come 6pm on Saturday.

Normally a European Cup side, Pau is a renowned tough place to get a win and their support is known to be particularly fanatical in the cauldron of the Stade du Hameau.

The 24-year-old is under no illusions just how hard the game's first 20 minutes are going to be.

"I think they'll come out pretty hard, they'll be a lot of pride at stake and they are bound to come at us in the first half, so we have got to perform from the word go and put some pressure on them." he said.

Of the season so far, Davies says: "I think we have played in fits and starts but it's starting to come together now, we had a lot of new players in the team and it took a while for us all to gel."

Hooker and captain Leyton Phillips has failed a fitness test on his injured calf and Jon Evans joins the starting XV with Kieron Crawford on the bench. Chay Billen will captain the side.

Pau were due to announce their side today.

Team. Ebbw Vale: R Davies, A Takarangi, E Binham, R Shorney, A Bevan, S Mitchell, B Shelbourne, A Black, J Evans, M Jones, O Booyse, P Sidoli, C Billen (c), K Tuipulotu, T Morris. Replacements: T Bagg, M Meenan, N Wakely, D Penisini, K Crawford, P Jones, W Thomas.