THERE are three humdingers in three different competitions for Gwent’s Principality Premiership clubs this afternoon with dreams of silverware on the line.

Bedwas go for glory in the Foster’s Challenge Cup final against Pontypridd, Ebbw Vale host Llandovery in the quarter-finals of the Swalec Cup and it’s effectively a knockout clash as play-off chasing rivals Cross Keys and Newport face off at Pandy Park.

Starting at Bridgend’s Brewery Field, Bedwas are 80 minutes away from lifting their first trophy but face a tough task against a Pontypridd side eyeing a treble.

The men from Sardis Road have been a tad more vulnerable this season – but it’s all relative.

Ponty remain the standard bearers for semi-professional rugby in Wales but Bedwas have enjoyed a strong season and it’s no coincidence that taking the development competition seriously led to an upturn in fortunes after a sluggish start to the league.

Head coach Steve Law is one of the shrewdest coaches in the league and his charges are buoyed not only by six wins and one draw to make it to the final but by a 22-8 triumph when they hosted Ponty in November.

James Dixon has to control matters from fly-half in the absence of the injured points machine Richard Powell while Dragons blindside James Thomas, who earned a pro deal by impressing as Bedwas club captain, must lead the charge against a physical Ponty pack along with young regional colleague Joe Davies.

League leaders Ebbw Vale were brought back to earth with a bump at Pandy Park in midweek when Cross Keys ended their 10-game winning streak in the league.

The Steelmen have no margin for error against the Drovers at Eugene Cross Park as they attempt to secure a mouth-watering last four tie with Ponty in the Swalec Cup.

The league encounters with fellow title hopefuls Llandovery contrasted starkly – at Church Bank Ebbw were humiliated 50-0 but on home turf they enjoyed a hard-fought 14-6 success.

The Steelmen were agonisingly beaten on try count by Cross Keys in the semi-finals in 2012 while last year they were knocked out by Pontypridd at Eugene Cross Park, so they are desperate for a shot at revenge and a big day out at Principality Stadium.

It won’t be mathematically over for the losers at Pandy Park this afternoon, but their odds for Premiership glory will be extremely long.

Ebbw Vale currently lead the way on 69 points with one game (Aberavon, home) remaining, Pontypridd are second on 66 with three left, Newport have the same figures and are third by virtue of having fewer wins that the champions, Llandovery are fourth on 65 with three left, Aberavon are on 63 with two remaining, Keys are sixth with 59 and four fixtures to play.

Newport make the short trip on the back of successive losses to Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins, defeats that leave them with no margin for error.

The Black and Ambers must at least win on their travels to either Keys or Pontypridd and make no mistake against Llanelli on final weekend.

They beat Keys when the sides met at Rodney Parade last month but know they need to produce an even stronger performance today.

Newport tinker with the side that spluttered against the Quins with Haydn Palmer coming into midfield while Matt O’Brien comes in to try and provide some control from fly-half but head coach Craig Warlow gives the others a shot at redemption.

Today’s hosts insist they are outsiders for the play-offs but ignore such talk; they may have a manic schedule courtesy of postponements with four league fixtures and a Swalec Cup semi-final against the Quins to fit in before April 23 but they can challenge on two fronts.

Keys will have to rotate their squad wisely in the run-in and their approach will be shaped by today’s game – win and they will be in it until the bitter end, lose and it will be very tough to make the top three.

They plump for a youthful side, rewarding those who downed Ebbw with the pack staying the same. James Leadbeater and Josh Prosser are paired at half-back while Nathan Williams comes in at 13 against his old side.

Bedwas (v Pontypridd): G Payne, M John, A Williams, M Callow, A Brew, J Dixon, T Rowlands, D Preece (captain), R Wilkes, M Pettit, J Davies, T Bell, J Thomas, G Lee, S Feehan. Replacements: G George, B Toms, K Jenkins, G Edmonds, A Waite, L Crane, J Sawyer, A Evans.

Ebbw Vale (v Llandovery): C Levesley, R Gardner, N Preece, I Smerdon, D Williams, D Langdon, C Thomas, R Jones, M Williams, R Sevenoaks, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, R Clarke, R Kynes, C Regan. Replacements: J Franchi, I George, G Robinson, L Crocker, E Doyle, T Edwards, J Howells, J Rosser.

Cross Keys (v Newport: O Howe, M Powell, N Williams, P Williams, L Lewis, J Prosser, J Leadbeater, L Garrett, E Shipp, R Cornock, S Williams, S Andrews, J Skinner, S Matthews (captain), I Jones. Replacements: D Hughes, G Carpenter, A Lott, D Hodge, T Lampard, O Leonard, L Andrews, B Nightingale.

Newport (at Cross Keys): L ap Myrddin, J Morris, G O’Driscoll, H Palmer, E Frewen, M O’Brien, R James, J Lavender, W Evans, T Piper, D Partridge, A Brown (captain), R Jones, R Jenkins, B Lampitt. Replacements: A Watkins, M Prosser, A Jeffries, J Goodey, C Attwell, A Bidgood, A Robson, W Cunliffe.