WHEN referee Tim Hayes blows the final whistle at just past 4pm this afternoon the relegation shootout between Ebbw Vale and Pontypool could be settled.

The pair that have propped up the table all season long meet at Eugene Cross Park and it could be the hosts who drop down to Division One East today.

If the Steelmen fail to win then they will be relegated for the first time in their history, while victory may only delay their fall from the top flight.

Vale are 12 points back on Pooler, who are on a remarkable run of five wins on the bounce, and they need to double their current tally of three league wins over the next 10 days.

The duel is Pooler’s to lose but they don’t need to be warned that anything can happen in the run-in.

They would have been down this time last year had a drop goal on the final play of the final game from Gareth Bowen, the Bridgend fly-half who is now at Ebbw Vale, not sailed wide.

And today’s visitors will be back under pressure if the Steelmen somehow produce their performance of the season to bag a five-pointer.

Another great escape could be possible given that Ebbw are still to host a hideously out of form Glamorgan Wanderers side and a Neath side that will have been crowned champions.

Meanwhile, Pooler face tricky fixtures against Newport and Aberavon – two sides that are used to mixing it at the top without any fear of the drop.

But the odds are against the Steelmen, who can have few complaints if they are mixing it with Newbridge, Blackwood and Tredegar next season.

Their try tally of 13 from 23 games is pitiful and they have failed to record a four-try bonus all season.

Ebbw not only need one more magnificent performance from number eight Rhys Williams, they need three.

But he cannot do it on his own. His teammates must match (or even better) his work-rate, determination and skill.

The battle of the back rows promises to be a cracker and Vale will have their work cut out against the in-form Pooler trio of Geraint Morris, Cae Trayhern and Morgan Allen.

The form book would suggest a Pooler win but the Steelmen will want to go down fighting, even if victory only delays their relegation.

The battle at Eugene Cross Park will be sorted by the time Newport go up against Neath at Rodney Parade (kick-off 6pm, live on S4C).

The Black and Ambers have suffered a dip in form recently and need a couple more wins to seal a place in the top four that ensures British and Irish Cup qualification.

They have won all 12 of their Premiership home games so far and will need to produce their performance of the season to beat the champions-elect.

The pack will have to be at their best but scrum-half Alex Walker holds the key. Newport have struggled for control this season so Walker must get them playing in the right areas and also help young Academy fly-half Lewis Robling through a televised game against the best side in the division.

Cross Keys will want to finish their season on a high when Swansea visit Pandy Park this afternoon.

The Keys have little to play for but they will want to send experienced lock Ben Watkins out on a high before he retires.

Second-placed Swansea have lost to Newport, Pooler and Ebbw Vale on their travels east so a Keys side that are fired up by a woeful refereeing performance that contributed to a 17-16 midweek loss to Cardiff could well edge it.

Other fixtures: Bedwas v Carmarthen Quins, Cardiff v Llanelli, Pontypridd v Aberavon, Glamorgan Wanderers v Llandovery.