EBBW Vale have Principality Premiership top spot in their sights as they prepare for another crunch clash in the race for the playoffs, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Steelmen welcome fellow title hopefuls Carmarthen Quins to Eugene Cross Park this afternoon knowing that a bonus-point victory would ensure the dream of extending their league campaign beyond April 25 would be a step closer to becoming a reality.

Ebbw are four points back on unbeaten leaders Pontypridd, who have a game in hand, but it’s what is beneath them that is arguably more important.

Last weekend Jason Strange’s men put distance between themselves and fourth-placed Cardiff by impressively beating the Blue and Blacks 36-18 at Eugene Cross Park.

A repeat against the third-placed Quins, who are eight points back with a game in hand, would put Ebbw in a great position to secure second place at the very least.

A bonus-point success will would see Vale climb above Ponty but a low-scoring win would do just fine against their strong west Walian visitors.

The Quins, who lost 14-6 to the leaders at Sardis Road last weekend, took the spoils when they hosted Ebbw on a grim Friday night in November.

The visitors felt that they should have been heading home with the spoils after their strong scrum was denied a late penalty try in a 26-24 defeat.

Strange makes four changes to the Ebbw XV that beat Cardiff with props Ross Jones and Robert Sevenoaks getting the nod ahead of try scorers John Lavender and Gethin Robinson.

Owen Williams and Tom Hiscock come in on the wing and in midfield respectively for the injured Tom James and Adam Jones.

“We face a massive challenge from an excellent Carmarthen Quins team who pose threats all over the park,” said Strange. “The boys know that they’ll have to be at their very best to keep the winning run going.”

Blindside flanker Will Boyde comes in for the Quins and the 20-year-old, a replacement in both of the Scarlets’ festive derbies against the Ospreys, will be a key figure.

Ebbw Vale: D Haymond, O Williams, T Hiscock, C Meyer, N Preece, I Smerdon, R Downes, R Jones, R Francis, R Sevenoaks, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, C Regan, R Kynes, S Gibson. Replacements: TBC