CAPTAIN Damien Hudd has paid tribute to the Ebbw Vale fans who he hopes will cheer his side to victory in Sunday’s Principality Premiership play-off semi-final at Llandovery (2.30pm).

Ebbw’s players can count on a big away support getting behind them for the Church Bank clash, as they bid to make the Grand Final for the second year running.

The hosts, looking to make the most of home advantage, go into the game on the back of their triumph in the Swalec Cup final last weekend.

The teams have met three times already this term, twice in the league and once in the cup, with Llandovery leading the series 2-1.

Another win for the Drovers would send them through to a Grand Final against Pontypridd at Sardis Road on May 15.

Hudd and his men are going to try and make sure that doesn’t happen, and the skipper knows just how much of a role his club’s loyal fans can play in helping them get to the final instead.

“I think home advantage does count but we have got a cracking group of supporters,” he said.

“It’s not a great feeling when you go to a ground and you feel as though you haven’t got any support.

“But at Ebbw Vale we are lucky to have a passionate crowd who will follow us everywhere.

“Llandovery is probably one of the hardest grounds to go to so that is a bonus for us as the away team.

“If we want to win the league then we’ve got to go to places like that and win.”

He added: “Our fans are like an extra man for us.

“We are probably one of the best supported clubs in Wales along with Pontypridd.”

Hudd believes Sunday’s encounter could be an open one, and he insists that Ebbw, who lost 28-14 to Pontypridd in last season’s showpiece, can adapt their game if they need to.

The skipper makes no apologies for the Steelmen utilising their prolific catch-and-drive lineout, but he feels they have a lot more to offer than that.

“People think we can only play a forward-orientated game but we proved against Aberavon that we can throw the ball about,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot more than a driving lineout and dominant scrum.

“These things are nice to have when they are working well, but you’ve got to look to do things differently when they aren’t.

“Llandovery have to be odds-on favourites, but if we get everything right then we’ve got a chance of beating them.

“We need to be at 100 per cent otherwise we will come unstuck against a very good side.”