EBBW Vale venture into Pontypridd's House of Pain needing to convince their coach Mike Ruddock that they can survive life on the road.

Ponty entertain Vale (2.30pm) in the Welsh Premiership as the Steelmen face a tough three weeks with home and away quarter-final matches against Pau in the European Shield in the next fortnight.

But Ruddock is not convinced his side can win at Pontypridd, especially after they were given a 34-6 Boxing Day beating at the hands of Cardiff at the Arms Park and he has constructed a plan to try and stop Pontypridd.

The Gwent side need to nullify Ponty's driving play and they have been working on a few plans of their own to counter the threat from the inform home side.

The hosts have some injury doubts with British Lion Neil Jenkins definitely out with a broken bone in his hand, while Wales prop Gethin Jenkins is doubtful with a dead leg.

New Zealander Sonny Parker twisted his ankle against Neath and will also be given a late fitness test, as will Nick Kelly and flanker Richard Parks.

Ebbw Vale wait on the fitness of lock Ockert Booyse and centre Nick Wakely, both of whom have picked up leg injuries as the Steelmen look for their first away win this season.

Ruddock said: "I don't think we will win up there, the players haven't showed me they can play for 80 minutes and compete like they need to do.

"The team was flat against Cardiff, the players gave so much in beating Llanelli (20-8 two weeks ago) that they had nothing left in the tank for Cardiff.

"Pontypridd are the in-form Welsh side at the moment, but we need to measure ourselves against the best and get a yard-stick down before our trip to France."

Vale play Pau in France on January 18 and the Steelmen have their work cut-out to make the semi-finals of the European Shield against one of the best French sides.

Meanwhile, Ebbw Vale chairman Marcus Russell was set to meet with the players today to tell them about the clubs developments off the field.

Russell has been in talks with Newport owner Tony Brown and the Welsh Rugby Union's chief executive David Moffett on plans to merge the two Gwent sides into one team to play pronvicial rugby in European competitions next season.