IN-FORM Ebbw Vale will have a fifth victory in a row in their sights today when they head west to face Aberavon at the Talbot Athletic Ground (kick-off 2.30pm).

The Steelmen stretched their winning run to four last Saturday with a hard-fought 20-7 defeat of West Wales visitors Llanelli.

That win took Ebbw up to and past the 50-point mark for the season, keeping them fourth in the Principality Premiership with half their fixtures to go.

It came after wins against Carmarthen Quins, Bargoed and Cardiff and was down in large part to a two-try salvo from flying winger Toby Fricker.

Aberavon are five points and one place behind Greg Woods’ charges after 10 wins from 14 outings so far this term.

They could well have been level on points with the Steelmen going into today's encounter had their showdown with Swansea last weekend not been postponed because of the heavy rain that swept the country.

While the visitors will be looking to overtake third-placed Cardiff with another victory, they also know the Wizards are going to be out for revenge.

For it was on the second weekend of the campaign that Aberavon surrendered a 17-0 lead to lose 19-17 at Eugene Cross Park in the first televised match this season.

And apart from a surprise 16-13 reverse to Bridgend at the Brewery Field a fortnight ago, Aberavon’s recent form, like Ebbw’s, has also been good.

The visitors, though, have the meanest defence in the Premiership, conceding an average of less than 16 points per game and 1.8 tries per fixture.

At the Talbot Athletic Ground, the Wizards lead 11-4, and won when the sides last met at the ground two seasons ago.