CROSS Keys head coach Greg Woods may feel his side are out of the running for the Principality Premiership play-offs but gaining revenge over Gwent rivals Newport this Saturday (2.30pm) would give their chances of a top-three place a huge shot in the arm.

Despite sitting sixth in the table, Keys still have four matches left and lie 10 points behind leaders Ebbw Vale, who must now wait until April 24 to play their final game of the regular season.

However, Keys, 26-14 victors over Ebbw in midweek, could find it tough in their pursuit of the play-offs as they try to cope with a fixture backlog, while they also have a Swalec Cup semi-final against Carmarthen Quins on the horizon.

The fact they were able to end Ebbw’s 10-match winning run on Tuesday night shows the squad are up for the challenge of competing for silverware on two fronts, and they will be looking for more of the same when Newport visit Pandy Park on Saturday.

Woods was particularly pleased with the performances of his younger players during the Ebbw triumph, with hooker Ellis Shipp and scrum-half Owain Leonard standing out in the eyes of the Keys chief.

“I thought our youngsters played really well and it was a big pat on the back for everyone,” he said.

“I felt we deserved it from start to finish and it was a youthful side out there, so the future is looking good.

“Ebbw Vale have got a fantastic catch and drive and the most pleasing thing for me was that we dealt with it.”

When asked about Keys’ league hopes, he added: “We’re out of it and we’re just focusing on getting ourselves ready for that semi-final.

“What the guys did against Ebbw Vale was raise the bar and the players have got to make my job really hard with that semi-final team.”

As for Newport, who beat Keys 14-6 at Rodney Parade late last month, Woods said: “You know what sides offer and I think Newport have had a fantastic season.

“I think they’re a bit tougher and a bit mentally stronger.

“They certainly did a job on us at Rodney Parade and we could have no excuses about that result.

“We’ve got to right a few wrongs but we know it’s going to be another huge challenge.”

Centre and captain Leon Andrews could return from injury for Keys.