EBBW Vale may have made a dream return to the Principality Premiership but head coach Jason Strange insists they won't hit their straps until after Christmas.

The Steelmen aim to keep their top spot when they welcome Aberavon to Eugene Cross Park tomorrow afternoon.

After four years of waiting to be back in the top flight, Ebbw have hit the ground running with four wins from five games.

"I couldn't have asked for from of the players," said Strange. "They have given everything physically and have showed a lot of self-belief, which is great because it'd be easy to question yourself going up a league.

"The most pleasing thing is the style of rugby that we have played and I am confident that this squad will get even better with the more experience they get in the Premiership.

"I still don't think that we have gelled and I think we will play our best rugby post-Christmas."

Ebbw's only disappointment of the season came when they were turned over by Newport on their own patch, although they got their revenge at Rodney Parade a fortnight ago when a last-gasp penalty try earned a 31-29 win.

"We pride ourselves on performing at home so we have to hit back after letting a lot of people down against Newport," said Strange.

"We didn't reach the levels of performance that we expect so need to redeem ourselves against Aberavon."

The Wizards were crushed 85-0 by Yorkshire Carnegie last weekend but Strange believes that British and Irish Cup thumping is an anomaly.

"I'm not reading too much into that result," he said. "Aberavon are a side with dangerous runners in the backs and plenty of experience of Premiership rugby in the forwards so we know that it's going to be a tough game.

"It's an exciting month coming up with three Friday games (against Carmarthen Quins, Pontypridd and Bridgend) so we want to get off to a good start."

Back row forwards Lewis Young and wing Gareth Williams are nearing returns from injury but wing Matthew McGovern faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken jaw playing for Blackwood last weekend.