EBBW Vale captain Ronny Kynes has labelled Merthyr as the Manchester City of the Principality Premiership ahead of tonight's top-of-the-table tussle at Eugene Cross Park.

The Steelmen entertain the Ironmen (kick-off 7.10pm) in front of the BBC cameras in a cracker between two title contenders.

Ebbw are fresh from a first loss of the season at Pontypridd that allowed the champions to climb above them into top spot.

Aiding their bid to bounce back is Dragons fly-half Josh Lewis, who returns to Eugene Cross Park after his exploits for the club earned a move to English Premiership giants Bath in 2017.

The 26-year-old from Aberdare has made eight regional appearances this season but Jason Tovey is given the 10 jersey for tonight's PRO14 game at Ulster.

Big-spending Merthyr head east on the Heads of the Valleys Road with a formidable squad but the Steelmen pushed them hard last season, edged out 10-6 in the WRU National Cup semi-final and then 17-14 after a last-gasp Kyle Evans score in May.

"Merthyr are the Manchester City of Welsh club rugby with a great squad and a big budget," said flanker Kynes.

"They are a really tough side but we want to be beating teams like them and have come close before, losing a close one in the cup and from the last play of the game in the league.

"We'd love to get one over them and to do that we have to take away their set piece."

Ebbw were beaten 24-19 by Ponty, another title contender, at Sardis Road last Saturday.

Greg Woods' side had their chances but had to settle for a losing bonus point.

"It could have gone either way," said Kynes. "A couple of things didn't go for us but Ponty came out on top.

"We've still won seven out of eight games and we would have bitten your hand off for that at the start of the season because no game is a banker with all sides fighting for something this season."

Tonight's game will be refereed by Nigel Owens, who is warming up for autumn appointments in charge of Ireland against Italy and France versus South Africa.