EBBW Vale captain Chay Billen (pictured) is set to make a shock return from injury for Saturday's Principality Cup semi-final as the Steelmen take on Llanelli.

Having been ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurring neck injury last month, the Wales A lock has sought medical advice and has declared himself fit to play in Saturday's match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - despite going under the surgeon's knife next Tuesday.

The 27-year-old is unlikely to play the whole match, with locks Ockert Booyse and Neil Edwards starting, but if given the nod by coach Mike Ruddock, he will take his place on the bench to boost his side's chances against Llanelli, the European cup semi-finalists.

Having picked up the neck injury in Ebbw Vale's European Shield match against Agen, Billen had been struggling to recover from the persistent strain and, in his own words, had "struggled to lift his head off the pillow some mornings" because of the pain.

Having seen a specialist yesterday and told while there is a small chance of aggravating the injury, he has decided it is a risk he is prepared to take to help his side.

He said: "I've had a chat with the doctors and, although there is a small chance of making the injury worse, I'm putting myself forward for a place in the squad.

"If Mike'll have me in the team, it be great to be involved. "The neck might be a bit sore for a few days after, if I get on, but it's a chance I'm prepared to take."

Ruddock has said he will talk to both the club doctor and Billen at training today before deciding on whether to include him in the squad of 22 players.

Despite Ebbw Vale welcoming back centre Rhys Shorney and flanker Rhys Williams from injury, Ruddock was talking up Llanelli's all-conquering side for Saturday.

Vale narrowly lost 19-12 to Newport in the semi-final last - year, but Ruddock thinks the Llanelli side boasting internationals Chris Wyatt, Robin McBryde and Stephen Jones will be a tough side to conquer - even without injured British Lion Scott Quinnell.

He said: "This is our cup final. Last year was close, but there is something about an Ebbw Vale v Newport match which makes you think it could be a lot closer.

"Llanelli are just one of those sides with so many experienced players, they have settled players in Stephen Jones and Chris Wyatt.

"I'm sure they wouldn't have needed to train this week, because they have such established combinations and that's the difference between the two teams. "We'll give it our best shot, but it'll be tough."