CROSS Keys can lead the way in the Principality Premiership once again if they avoid an upset against bottom club Neath this afternoon, writes Chris Kirwan.

Newport currently lead the way courtesy of their excellent bonus point win at Llanelli on Thursday evening.

Keys and Pontypridd had led the way before that encounter at Parc y Scarlets and the men from Pandy Park should go back above their Gwent rivals while Ponty head to Bedwas.

Greg Woods' team are hot favourites for their home encounter with the Welsh All Blacks, who are yet to win a league game this term.

Keys are on an eight-game unbeaten Premiership streak and have the Dragons' Geraint Rhys Jones at fly-half in the absence of the injured Josh Prosser and Ethan Davies, who is on Wales Sevens duty in Dubai.

Promising teenage Dragons academy tighthead Leon Brown will be under more scrutiny after being named as Premiership player of the month for October.

Ebbw Vale have had a solid enough first half of the season but could do with taking the spoils at Aberavon to avoid having to play catch-up in the race for the play-offs.

The Steelmen were beaten at Newport last time out in the league but are boosted by the return of influential skipper Damien Hudd in the second row following a groin problem.

Cameron Regan starts alongside Ronny Kynes and Harri Kaddie in the back row in place of Luke Crocker, who like Keys' Davies is in Dubai with Wales Sevens.

Bedwas will look to become the third Gwent side of the season to lower the colours of champions Pontypridd, following the lead of Keys and Ebbw.

Steve Law's side beat in-form Aberavon at the start of the month and a shock against Ponty would really put the cat among the pigeons at the top of the table.

Richard Powell captains the side from fly-half and will look to spark a backline featuring former Wales wing Aled Brew at 13 into life.

Cross Keys (v Neath): O Howe, L Lewis, L Andrews (captain), P Uhi, N Trowbridge, GR Jones, J Leadbeater, R Corncock, D Hughes, L Brown, D Hodge, S Andrews, I Jones, S Matthews, A Powell. Replacements: E Shipp, G Carpenter, A Lott, T Lampard, J Skinner, L Montague, O Leonard, S Williams.

Ebbw Vale (at Aberavon): D Haymond, D Williams, N Preece, J Howells, J Rosser, D Langdon, C Thomas, I George, M Williams, G Robinson, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, C Regan, R Kynes, H Keddie. Replacements: J Franchi, L Bridges, L Leddington, J Bartlett, R Clarke, J Jonathan, I Smerdon, C Leversley.

Bedwas (v Pontypridd): K Clabby, G Gasson, A Brew, C Edwards, M John, R Powell (captain), T Rowlands, B Toms, A Rees, J Mills, G Edmunds, C Tucker, A Waite, J Sawyer, S Feehan. Replacements: J Haines, M Pettit, K Jenkins, G Williams, J Hayward, L Crane, J Dixon, A Williams.

Other fixtures: Carmarthen Quins v Bridgend, Llandovery v Cardiff.

PONTYPOOL bid to keep the heat on Merthyr when they head to Glynneath in the SSE Swalec Championship.

Pooler have been on a super run of form since losing to Swansea in week two and after 10 fixtures sit in third place, a point behind the Whites (who have played nine) and 12 back on the leaders (who have played 11).

Louie Tonkin's side head to struggling Glynneath, whose last win came against Newbridge on October 17, on the back of a 45-10 thrashing of Cardiff Met in Cyncoed.

'Bridge will look for a third win on the spin when they host Bridgend Athletic at the Welfare Ground.

Neil Edwards side have enjoyed fine victories against Llanharan (50-3) and Newcastle Emlyn (24-8) to climb to seventh in the table.

The two fixtures were tight last season, both going with home advantage. The Pigs lost 25-20 at Newbridge Fields before turning the tables 29-26 at the Welfare.

Other fixtures: Bargoed v Newcastle Emlyn, Merthyr v Llanharan, Narberth v RGC 1404, Swansea v Beddau, Tata Steel v Cardiff Met