CROSS Keys won’t be taking basement boys Neath lightly tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm) as they look to continue their excellent form with a fifth successive win.

Greg Woods’ side welcome a troubled Welsh All Blacks to Pandy Park team, the visitors enjoying contrasting fortunes to the hosts.

Once the Principality Premiership’s top dogs, Neath have lost all six league games so far this season to go with their British and Irish Cup qualifier defeat at the hands of Bridgend at the end of August.

Keys have won their last four after starting their British and Irish Cup campaign on a high with wins over Moseley and Ealing, followed by back-to-back league triumphs over Bridgend and Swansea.

But Woods knows better than to write off the men from the Gnoll, especially after they upset Keys last season by unexpectedly knocking the holders out of the Swalec Cup.

Due to Wales’ autumn internationals, this weekend sees the home side play their first game since November 2 when they completed the double over Swansea by hammering the All Whites 37-3 at Pandy Park.

“It’s our first game for three weeks, an absence which has had its pluses and minuses,” Woods said.

“We wanted to keep on playing really because we were on a roll, but some of our boys got a chance during that time to experience regional rugby in the LV= Cup with the Newport Gwent Dragons – brothers Rhys and Dorian Jones and Scott Matthews playing last week against Wasps.”

On the challenge Neath pose, Woods added: “They are struggling but they will win one soon – many of their defeats have been in close games.

“They also welcome back their blindside flanker Lee Evans this week and he is a big player for them – he more or less beat us on his own in the Swalec Cup last season.

“We are expecting a tough battle with them and we will be looking for a powerful performance from our forwards.”

Keys are facing something of a midfield crisis with four potential centres out of action this week.

Three of them – Phil Williams, Nathan Williams (both knee) and Aled James (hamstring) – are suffering from injuries, although none are serious with the trio expecting to be fit again in the coming weeks.

Rhys Jones, the fourth, is away, swapping the cold of the Gwent Valleys for some Middle Eastern sunshine as he represents Wales at the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens, the second round of the HSBC Sevens World Series which takes place on November 29 and 30.

Captain and centre Leon Andrews is expected to partner Luke Williams in the Keys midfield.