EBBW Vale head coach Nigel Davies has gone on the charm offensive ahead of his side’s crucial clash with Llandovery, labelling the Drovers as “the strongest and most complete team” in the Principality Premiership.

Reigning champions Pontypridd await the winners of tomorrow’s play-off semi-final at Church Bank (2.30pm), and Davies is under no illusions about the challenge the Steelmen face in their pursuit of the league title.

Davies, whose team fell at the final hurdle last year, has the advantage of knowing where Llandovery’s threats lie having crossed paths with several of them during his four years in charge of the Scarlets.

“They will be full of confidence coming off the back of a big win,” said Davies, referring to the Drovers’ victory over Carmarthen Quins in the Swalec Cup final last weekend.

“They’ll be parading the cup around and looking to put on a performance at home.

“For me, Llandovery are the strongest and most complete team in the league.

“They have a lot of pace in their team and like to move the ball around.

“They play a great brand of rugby and they will no doubt want to show that on Sunday.

“They are very competitive at the set-piece and showed that the last time we played them.”

He went on to add: “Their links with the Scarlets are very strong.

“I was talking to Gareth Jenkins (former Scarlets and Wales coach) last week and out of the two teams in the Swalec Cup final all bar five of the players had come through the Scarlets system.

“They’ve got a lot of good players, most of them I came across when I was at the Scarlets.

“Matthew Jacobs is a dangerous player and Rhodri Davies is always a threat at scrum-half.

“Jack Maynard at 10 controls the game well and the full-back, Will Thomas, can cut teams apart.

“Luke Lewis, their captain and hooker, is also a very good player, and they have got a bit of edge to them in general.”

As for his own side, Davies feels it could be now or never for this group of players.

“It’s a big challenge for us but the boys are ready for it and they are looking forward to it,” he said.

“We won one more game in the league this season than last season, so it has been successful on that front.

“We’ve been consistent and we needed that record-breaking run of 10 wins to be in this game on Sunday, and they’ve got to make sure they grab this opportunity.

“I think they’ve done very well over the years and, as a group, it’s probably the last time they will get the chance to win some major silverware.”

Ebbw won’t be able to call on Harrison Keddie for the game as he is set to make his Newport Gwent Dragons debut at Zebre today, but Davies is still keen to praise the Wales Under-20 Grand Slam winner.

“He has been great this season,” said the Ebbw chief. “He has obviously spent some of his time training with the Dragons but any chance he gets he is back at Ebbw Vale, either training with us or watching us train.

“All the boys have a huge amount of respect for him and he has got a great opportunity with the Dragons.”

Someone else Davies has kind words for is flanker Ronny Kynes, Ebbw’s prolific try scorer from their signature catch-and-drive lineout move.

“He is very shrewd to say the least,” added Davies. “He epitomises the team in many ways.

“He is very hard working always desperate to play.

“He played with a broken jaw for a large part of the season but was still prepared to put his head in where it hurts.”