GWENT rugby fans could well receive a taste of the future today as Ebbw Vale look set to play their European Shield quarter-final at Rodney Parade.

The Steelmen look to have lost their battle to stage the first leg of the tie at their own Eugene Cross Park ground, which is under thick snow.

And with provincial rugby set to see Newport and Ebbw Vale merged into a Gwent side for next season's Heineken Cup and Celtic League, Vale coach Mike Ruddock is hoping some of the Newport fans will cheer his side on.

Eugene Cross Park will be inspected by Italian referee Giulio de Santis at 9.30 this morning and if, as expected, the pitch fails then Rodney Parade will be examined at 10.30am to host the match.

Should neither pitch be fit, then they will be re-examined for a Sunday kick-off, but if the match cannot be played in Wales this weekend, it will all come down to the second leg at Pau next Saturday to decide who gets the place in the semi-final.

Frost has got deep into the Eugene Cross Park pitch, but Ebbw Vale officials were confident last night that the Rodney Parade pitch, which was flattened after the Cardiff match, will be suitable to be played on.

But if the match does take place in the Gwent city, then it will show just how much progress has been made by Ebbw Vale's Marcus Russell and Newport's Tony Brown as the two chairmen discuss the formation of a Gwent side.

And Ruddock is hoping today's game, if played in Newport, could make some more progress.

Ruddock said: "In light of the new proposed mergers, the players are all playing for contracts and they want to state their cases."We want to put on a good show for our home supporters.

"But if the game is played at Rodney Parade, it'd be good if the Newport fans who didn't travel would support us.

"It might be a good chance to break down some of the barriers."

Having missed last weekend's 10-6 win at Pontypridd, centre Nick Wakely has been forced to sit this one out again and former Leicester Tiger Ed Binham will deputise, but Wales A lock Neil Edwards has recovered from a cold and will partner Peter Sidoli in the second row.

The French have included international half-backs Phillippe Carbonneau and David Aucagne in their squad, as well as international centre Jean-Charles Cistacq. Ebbw Vale: R Davies, A Takarangi, E Binham, R Shorney, A Bevan, S Mitchell, B Shelbourne, A Black, L Phillips, M Jones, P Sidoli, N Edwards, C Billen, K Tuipulotu, P Williams.

Replacements: D Penisini, J Evans, O Booyse, W Thomas, T Morris, M Meenan, T Bagg.

PICTURE: Ebbw Vale kit manager Ron Taylor looks out over a snow-covered Eugene Cross Park yesterday