EBBW Vale head coach Jason Strange praised his players, the club and their fans after his side clinched a Principality Premiership play-off spot.

Last Saturday's 51-0 annihilation of Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets meant the Steelmen secured a crack at ending Pontypridd's domination of the league by qualifying for a second or third spot in the league.

Ebbw travel to Cardiff tonight (kick-off 7.30pm) with a great opportunity of ensuring they get a home tie by finishing second, with a mouth-watering showdown against their Gwent rivals Cross Keys in a play-off to come to determine who meets Ponty in the Grand Final at Sardis Road next month.

It is a remarkable achievement for a Vale side written off by many at the start of the season, some pundits predicting they would be also-rans this campaign.

After dominating the Swalec Championship for three years in their enforced ring-fencing below the Premiership, it is the culmination of a fantastic effort on and off the field for a proud club who have risen again so spectacularly after their Welsh Rugby Union-imposed 'wilderness years' in exile.

With Cardiff now out of the race to challenge Keys for a play-off spot after the Pandy Park outfit got enough points in battering Bridgend at the Brewery Field on Tuesday night, Vale need a win in the capital city to make sure of home advantage at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday, May 9.

Speaking of last week's demolition in West Wales and their odyssey, Strange said: "It was a fantastic performance. To beat Llanelli 51-0 away and reach the play-offs are amazing achievements and a great measurement of how far we have come in recent seasons, as well as a real credit to our players and all our supporters.

"It was always our goal to secure a top three finish. I'm sure a lot of people may raise their eyebrows at that.

"But it just shows what you can achieve if everyone throughout a club works hard, if you are prepared to make great sacrifices, you will be rewarded."

On their desire to cementing the chance of hosting that play-off, talented coach Strange said: "It is within our control, but whatever happens, I'm really proud of the team for all their hard work.

"We are really going to enjoy these last couple of games we have this season.

"It would be great if we could have a home play-off, it would be wonderful for the club, our fans and for the North Gwent area. It would generate a real feel good factor.

"And it's really important we keep the momentum going against Cardiff. After our recent disappointing defeat to Bedwas, I feel a lot of the boys have started playing their best rugby of the season.

"They are peaking at the right time and I think there could be more to come from us."

The bad news for Vale though is that lock Josh Jacas (ankle) and prop Gethin Robinson (bicep) are out for the rest of the season.