NUMBER eight Will Thomas says Ebbw Vale are "fired up and in with a chance" for today's Principality Cup semi-final against Llanelli.

Thomas, 24, makes his debut at the Millennium Stadium and hopes that the hunger and belief in the young Ebbw Vale team will help them pull off a major upset against mighty Llanelli who are without their British Lion Scott Quinnell.

Quinnell is out with a knee injury, but Thomas says he is fired up and hungry for a win, so the Steelmen can prove their worth and personally, so he can impress watching Wales coach Steve Hansen and earn a place in the touring party to South Africa.

Having worked his way up the ranks of professional rugby by playing for Risca, Newbridge and Cross Keys before making it into the Ebbw Vale squad, Thomas is determined that Vale give a good account of themselves.

He said: "I'm really fired up for it, we had a chat after training and we all feel we are in with a chance.

"This is our chance to show the Welsh rugby public what we are all about, despite our position in the league.

"It's at the back of everyone's mind that there are places up for grabs on the tour of South Africa and there are a few players in the team who have a strong case."

Occupying the penultimate spot in the Welsh/Scottish league and after suffering several close defeats this season, especially twice against Bridgend and at Swansea, Thomas says now is the time for Vale to prove their worth.

The squad toured the stadium on Tuesday to get a feel for the place, but Thomas is under no illusions what it would mean if Vale can produce an upset.

He said: "It would be massive, it's the biggest game I have ever played in and if we win then we would fancy our chances against Cardiff or Pontypridd, we have beaten them both this season.

"Some of the guys haven't played at the stadium before, while most of the Llanelli team have on several occasions, so I think our boys will be more hungry for a win."

But Ebbw Vale know they have a mountain to climb if they are going to beat a Llanelli side full of confidence, after impressive European Cup wins at Bath and at home to Leicester, even without the huge presence of the influential Quinnell.

Thomas said: "It's probably a good thing he is on the side lines, he can win games for Llanelli, but they have got some superb back row players in Dave Hodges and Simon Easterby, so they have talent whether he is there or not."

Llanelli also miss centre Neil Boobyer through injury, while Chris Wyatt has a place on the bench with a calf strain, but it will still take a titanic effort to knock the Welsh/Scottish League title-chasers off their game, even with their European Cup semi-final against Leicester just a fortnight away.