EBBW Vale face Welsh rugby's tricksters Neath on Saturday hoping the exertions of last night's Welsh/Scottish League win over Newport will have taken their toll on the Welsh All Blacks.

Having said all week that they were targeting Saturday's match against Ebbw at the Gnoll to pick up valuable league points, Neath fielded their strongest side for last night's 36-20 win at Rodney Parade, which seriously dents the Black-and-Ambers' title chances.

Neath coach Lyn Jones had spent all week saying how a weak Neath side would face Newport, saving their strength for Saturday, but having initially selected a shadow side, Neath unleashed their strongest XV as Tongan centre Dave Tiueti grabbed a second half try, along with Welsh international Barry Williams and scrum half Patrick Horgan, to seal the win.

Ebbw Vale are hoping to produce some tricks of their own come Saturday. They gave one of the best performances of the season to dump Neath out of the Principality Cup 20-10 at Ebbw and know Saturday will be another tough battle.

Vale coaches Mike Ruddock and Kevin Hopkins have targeted their remaining home matches against Glasgow and Caerphilly (on April 27 and May 8 respectively) as 'must win' matches, so a result for Vale at Neath would be a bonus and with a long trek to Edinburgh next Wednesday for their re-arranged Welsh/Scottish League match, Vale are keeping some players in reserve.

Ruddock said: "Neath are a wily bunch and they recruited wisely over the summer. Lee Jarvis has given them a lot of direction at ten and with Andy Moore at scrum half they have strong half backs.

"They have plenty of pace behind in strike runners like James Storey and Shane Williams and as they showed Newport, they have a strong all round team."

Centres Rhys Shorney and Paul Matthews will play against Neath, while Australian Martin Ridley and vice-captain Dai Weatherley will play against Edinburgh next Wednesday.

And openside flanker Paul Williams comes in for Tyron Morris, with the latter set to play in the Scottish match.

Iestyn Thomas captains the side in the absence of hooker Leyton Phillips, who aggravated an old knee injury in last Saturday's Principality Cup semi-final defeat to Llanelli.

On the injury front, captain Chay Billen went under the surgeon's knife yesterday to help cure him of a persistent neck injury, while outside half Scott Mitchell has had an operation on his groin injury, but was able to report to the club physio on the same day. Ebbw Vale: G Cull, A Takarangi, R Shorney, P Matthews, A Wagstaff, M James, K Ellis, I Thomas (c), J Evans, M Jones, O Booyse, N Edwards, K Tuipulotu, P Williams, W Thomas. Replacements: D Penisini, C Bevan, D Hudd, R Williams, A Bevan, D Wetherley, D Rogers.

Cross Keys head coach David Rees and back-up team Richie Collins and Dave Hill have committed themselves to the club for next season.

The Welsh First Division club's secretary, Chris Clarke, commented: "We are delighted. Cross Keys have shown their faith in the set-up and are encouraged by the loyalty and commitment of the coaches."

Rees, who left Keys at the end of last season before returning three months into the new campaign, said: "I enjoy it at Cross Keys and after speaking to my family and receiving assurances about my commitments to Wales Under-19s, I am happy to remain on board. The same goes for Richie and Dave.

"It was difficult when we took over this season to stamp a game structure on the players in the middle of a relegation battle.

"We need a bit of stability and with the nucleus of this season's players and some strengthening we hope to do much better next season."