BOTH sides will be looking to claim a hat trick when Cross Keys head to Bedwas tomorrow afternoon, though the visitors will have to end something of a dry run if they are to do so.

Sixth-placed Keys have been in impressive form this season and look like contenders for a high finish in the table - a far cry from last season when injuries hit them hard and they ended up one from bottom.

They have sent Ebbw Vale and Glamorgan Wanderers packing in recent weeks and their forwards in particular have been on the top of their game.

But tomorrow they face a side that are also aiming high after impressive wins over Newport and Llandovery, and Bedwas have fared well in their encounters with the Pandy Park outfit in recent years.

Keys have tasted defeat in the last four league games between the sides and director of rugby Robert Beale is aware that his charges will need to be on top of their game to reverse their fortunes.

He said: "It's really nice to be going for a third win on the bounce but we know that it will be tough against a Bedwas side that are on a similar run of form and are having a great season under (coach) Steve Law.

"The last few games that we have played against them we have left the field wondering how we had lost but the bottom line is that we did.

"Our most disappointing defeats to them have been at Pandy Park where we have dominated for large periods but haven't put the points on the board.

"I am not expecting anything other than a tight, physical game. We need to make sure we concentrate for 80 minutes and take our chances when they come.

"We will play in our normal way which is with the pack working hard and laying the foundations for the backs. They have been in great form and we need them to be this weekend."

Keys will come face to face with a hot young prospect who came through the ranks at Pandy Park before being whisked off to Newport and now Bedwas.

Jason Tovey captained Keys' youth side but the Newport Gwent Dragons academy outside half/full back was placed at Rodney Parade last season, though he featured once for Keys, and Bridge Field this term.

And the 18-year-old, named this week in the Wales under-20s squad for the Six Nations, has certainly been instrumental in Bedwas' fine form - scoring 28 points in their last two games.

"It's something of a sore subject here I suppose," said Beale. "But he plays wherever he is told to play and he is certainly in good form at the moment. I'm sure he will figure prominently tomorrow."

Keys pair Ryan James and Owen Jones together as half backs while Sitaveni Rabuli starts at flanker and Ashley Sweet, himself named in the Wales under-20s squad, slots in at lock.

Bedwas are without centre Phil Dollman, who is on Dragons duty at London Irish, but field wing Jimmy Norris, who played for Keys against Swansea earlier in the season.

Bedwas: J Tovey, M Pizey, A Hughes, D Atkins, J Norris, J Welch (captain), J Pizey, G Leonard, P Harrison, K Jenkins, R Edwards, A Brown, P Sargent, A Tibbats, B Lampitt. Replacements: J Tilley, B Edwards, J Salter, C Powell, N Lewis, S Jones, A James.

Cross Keys: L Andrews, J Leadbetter, L Humpreys, D Price, M Johnstone, R James, O Jones, J Price, L Burns, B Fisher, A Sweet, B Watkins (captain), C Bridges, S Rabuli, J Malpas. Replacements: D Preece, R Miller, C Gould, M Curtis, T Lampard, C Pocock, G Williams.