CROSS Keys have been tipped by many to challenge Pontypridd for the Principality Premiership title and they will get an indication of where they stand when they welcome the champions to Pandy Park tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 12.30pm).

Keys have made a good start to the season and were it not for a wasteful streak in the first fortnight they could be on six wins from six like Ponty rather than heading into today on a four-game streak.

Ponty are undoubtedly the standard bearers for the Premiership, doing nothing too flash but just doing it well.

They are averaging 47.3 points and 6.5 tries per game so far so Keys will need to be awake defensively and be sharp to grasp their chances in attack.

Keys make just one change to the side that won at Ebbw Vale last weekend with Phil Williams making a timely return from injury at inside centre for Dragons fly-half Angus O’Brien, who suffered a blow to the ribs.

The management team reward the youth in their side for good performances with the likes of tighthead Leon Brown, loosehead Luke Garrett, fly-half Josh Prosser and wing Lloyd Lewis looking to impress against the best in the league.

Newport have already won more away league games this season than last thanks to an opening day success at Neath and last weekend’s excellent 48-28 victory at Bridgend.

The Black and Ambers will try to keep that feelgood factor at Carmarthen Quins (kick-off 1.30pm), who have won just once this season but are always tough to beat on their own turf.

Newport must cope without influential openside Ollie Griffiths, who was on Dragons duty in Glasgow, but livewire wing Elliot Frewen is back in the XV after his Samurai side won the Safari 7s in Kenya.

Ebbw Vale have had a solid start to life under new boss Nigel Davies but after last week’s loss to Keys will be keen to keep pace with the play-off contenders with victory at Llanelli (kick-off 12.30pm).

The Steelmen cruised to a 51-0 win at Parc y Scarlets at the end of last season but things promise to be tighter today when Davies returns to his old stomping ground.

Chris Levesley makes his first start at full back and Dominic Franchi has recovered from the injury he picked up at Llandovery to partner Adam Jones in the centre. Flanker Cameron Regan and lock Ashley Sweet also return.

Bedwas suffered the frustration of another narrow loss at Llandovery last week and will hope to get over the line when they host Cardiff (kick-off 1pm).

Head coach Steve Law is hindered by injuries and unavailability in the back five of his pack, although he is able to call on the Dragons’ Wales Under-20s lock Joe Davies.

His second row partner Corey Tucker makes his first start while George Lee skippers the team from flanker.

Cross Keys (v Pontypridd): E Davies, L Lewis, L Andrews (captain), P Williams, P Uhi, J Prosser, J Leadbeater, L Garrett, D Hughes, L Brown, S Andrews, T Lampard, I Jones, S Matthews, A Powell. Replacements: E Shipp, A Lott, R Cornock, R Tucker, N Trowbridge, E Jones, O Leonard, S Williams.

Newport (at Carmarthen Quins): E Howley, W Cunliffe, H Palmer, A James, E Frewen, A Robson, R James, J Lavender, E Whitson, A Jeffries, R Jones, D Partridge, L Phillips, R Jenkins, B Lampitt. Replacements: H Palmer, J Greenfield, T Piper, B Morgan, S Cross, O Davies, J Mogg, A King.

Ebbw Vale (at Llanelli): C Levesley, D Williams, D Franchi, A Jones, R Gardner, I Smerdon, T Edwards, R Jones, M Williams, G Robinson, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, C Regan, R Kynes, E Doyle. Replacements: J Franchi, I George, R Sevenoaks, H Keddie, L Crocker, C Thomas, S Jones, D Haymond.

Bedwas (v Cardiff): K Clabby, A Evans, C Edwards, A Williams, M John, J Dixon, T Rowlands, B Toms, A Rees, J Mills, J Davies, C Tucker, J Skinner, G Lee (captain), A Waite. Replacements: J Haines, D Preece, R Wilkes, S Feehan, J Sawyer, L Crane, R Powell, G Davies.