EBBW Vale's four-year wait for a Principality Premiership derby at Eugene Cross Park ends this afternoon when Newport head to Eugene Cross Park.

The visitors took the spoils the last time the old foes clashed at the home of the Steelmen thanks to Lewis Robling's penalty in a 16-13 win.

Ebbw were happy enough to bag a losing bonus point on a Wednesday in March 2010 in their ultimately doomed battle against the drop.

However, today they are favourites for victory after making a super start to the campaign with bonus point wins against Llandovery and Neath.

Ebbw boast a strong pack and will look for ex-Newport half-backs Rhys Downes and Ethan Davies to win the territorial battle.

The Black and Ambers have found things tougher after a pointless start against Carmarthen Quins and Pontypridd, two teams sure to be in the title mix.

They bring in hooker Dale Rogers and tighthead James Monck for the battle up front while promising centre Barney Nightingale is set for a debut.

The 17-year-old Newport High School student, who has made a pair of Dragons appearances, is named among the replacements.

Cross Keys will come up against a host of regional players when they take on Cardiff in the capital.

The Blue and Blacks have made a perfect start to the season with bonus-point wins against Bridgend and Llanelli and are bolstered by Wales internationals Lou Reed, Scott Andrews and Lloyd Williams.

Livewire Dragons academy wing Lloyd Lewis will make his Keys debut while loosehead Keagan Bale and flanker Jack Condy make their first starts.

Bedwas aim to record their first home win of the season when they welcome Aberavon to Bridge Field.

They have been beaten by Newport in a British and Irish Cup qualifier and Llanelli on the opening weekend of the league but have a spring in their step courtesy of last week's terrific win at Keys.

Prop Dan Preece captains the side as lock/back row James Thomas is on Dragons duty.

EBBW VALE (v Newport): D Haymond, W Cunliffe, N Preece, A Jones, O Williams, E Davies, R Downes, J Lavender, J Franchi, R Sevenoaks, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, R Clarke, R Kynes, S Gibson. Replacements: R Francis, R Jones, G Robinson, A Harris, H Keddie, C Thomas, I Smerdon, J Howells.

NEWPORT (at Ebbw Vale): G O'Driscoll, J Morris, J Murphy, D Franchi, J Lewis, M O'Brien, A Quick, D Pattison, D Rogers, J Monck, Adam Brown, A Frampton, B Lampitt, O Griffiths (captain), S Feehan. Replacements : W Evans, L Jenkins, A Jeffries, D Partridge, R Jenkins, O Davies, B Nightingale, J Mogg.

CROSS KEYS (at Cardiff): R Lee, E Jones, L Andrews (captain), P Uhi, L Lewis, D Jones, J Leadbeater, K Bale, J Howard, A Lott, D Hodge, S Andrews, J Condy, S Matthews, A Powell. Replacements: D Hughes, L Garrett, C Gould, J Skinner, N Williams, N Trowbridge, R James, S Williams.

BEDWAS (v Aberavon): H Thomson, R Budina, M Callow, A Pinches, M John, R Powell, T Rowlands, D Preece (captain), R Hutcherson, M Pettit, P Rees, J Walker, A Lee, J Sawyer, D Crimmins. Replacements: A Rees, B Toms, I Jenkins, J Richards, J Benjamin, L Crane, J Maynard, L Hudd.