CROSS Keys coach Nicky Lloyd is hoping his team can repeat the form, if not the result, of their weekend performance when high-flying Bridgend travel to Pandy Park tonight.

Keys head into the game on the back of a narrow loss to Pontypridd, where a late Ponty surge sealed a 23-20 win.

Mark McGee and Dan Evans had crossed the whitewash to put Keys into a 20-6 lead but a try conceded in the 80th minute ensured they headed back from Sardis Road without anything to show for their efforts.

"Anybody who saw the game will tell you that we deserved to win it," said Lloyd. "We coped physically and tactically with them, I thought we were very astute in the conditions.

"To deserve to win and then lose with 13 seconds left of normal time is a massive blow but we can take a lot of confidence out of the performance and we will be asking for more of the same against Bridgend."

Keys were defeated 23-11 when the teams met at Brewery Field back in October and finished the game down to 14 men after replacement lock Damien Hudd was sent off for fighting.

It brought to an end a run of three Cross Keys wins on the bounce against the Ravens, currently sitting in second place in the Premier Division, though Lloyd is hoping the double of 2004-5 means they make the trip west with confidence high.

Lloyd said: "They beat us comprehensively when they were at home but hopefully we can turn them over at our place.

"I suppose it gives us a slight boost to know we beat them twice last year, but even so they will head into the game as favourites because of their performances this year.

"Bridgend are doing really well at the moment and have been getting good results all season.

"They are a good all-round side, they've got a big pack, are dangerous from the first phase and they have a fine set of backs, so overall they are a threat from anywhere.

"It will be a bit of a mudbath and I think it will be an even contest and will be down to the mental attitude on the night."

Cross Keys: J Thomas, N Williams, G Turner, R Williams, D MIles, S Mitchell, G Betts, J Price, R Draper, D Evans, M Curtis, W Sims, R Peebles, T Lampard, W Thomas. Replacements: I George, G Horrigan, C Gould, S Marasco, R Williams, J Pizey, D Dark. Kick-off 7.15pm.