CAPTAIN Damien Hudd says Ebbw Vale have to cure their yellow fever if they are to make Eugene Cross Park a fortress in their bid to be the right half of the Principality Premiership split.

The champions got the defence of their title up and running with a 33-17 win against Newport last weekend after an opening loss at Llanelli.

The Steelmen host Bridgend tomorrow afternoon with lock Hudd knowing the importance of securing another home win given that the league divides in two after 15 games in January.

"We might have only been one game into the season but the game against Newport was must-win after we blew it against Llanelli from a strong position," said the Premiership player of the year for 2015/16.

"The new structure to the league means that you can't afford to drop behind and you definitely can't lose games at home. Everyone wants to be in that top eight and the key thing is to win at home and pick up a few wins away."

Failing to do that at Parc y Scarlets when edged out 24-22 by Llanelli meant there were sighs of relief after beating the Black and Ambers.

However, after a raft of penalties and two yellow cards did for them out west, Ebbw failed to learn their lesson with three men sent to cool off in the sin bin against their friends from Rodney Parade.

"Discipline is key in any sport and we have to improve," said Hudd. Infringe five, six, seven times and the ref is going to get fed up. We have to be cleaner against Bridgend."

The Ravens have had a mixed start to the season with a disappointing loss to RGC 1404 at the Brewery Field followed by a home win against Cross Keys and a narrow defeat to Cardiff in the capital.

In last season's fixtures Ebbw did the double over Bridgend with a 20-8 away victory followed by a 40-30 triumph at Eugene Cross Park.