THE January split means that there's much more on the line that Gwent derby bragging rights when Ebbw Vale host Newport in the Principality Premiership this afternoon.

The Steelmen and the Black and Ambers are playing catch-up in the scramble to earn a top-eight spot in the revamped top flight when the division bell sounds after 15 rounds.

Ebbw feel that they should have won when beaten at Llanelli on opening weekend and they were denied the chance to get that loss out of their system when last week's trip to Pontypridd was postponed because the plastic pitch is not yet ready at Sardis Road.

Newport head to Eugene Cross Park on a worrying seven-game losing streak with their disappointing end to a fine 2015/16 followed by defeats to Cardiff and Bedwas.

While there is no panic at Rodney Parade, a big derby win against the champions would certainly spark their season into life.

They bring back captain Adam Brown and back row forward Brendan Lampitt in a bid to have more go-forward after failing to win the battle of the gain line against Bedwas.

Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt continues his return from summer shoulder surgery while regional teammate Harri Keddie gets the nod at number eight for the hosts with Rory Pitman waiting in the wings.

Dragons back Geraint Rhys Jones will pull the strings from fly-half as Cross Keys bid for a first win of the season against Neath at Pandy Park.

It has been a chastening start to the campaign for the Keys and today's clash can be classed as must-win even if it's only round three.

Defeats to Merthyr and Bridgend, without even a consolation of a losing bonus point, have left them with little wiggle room ahead of the meeting with the Welsh All Blacks.

Neath have not beaten Keys since November, 2014 but after propping up the table last season showed that they have steel by winning at Bargoed on opening weekend.

Josh Prosser moves to full-back while Ieuan Jones gets the nod at number eight with Danny Hodge returning in the second row.

It's must-win for Keys but anything Bedwas can get from their fixture at big-spending Merthyr will be a bonus.

Steve Law's side head to the Wern on the back of their deserved win at Newport and the boss largely keeps the faith with the team that did the business. The sole charge sees flanker James Richards come in for George Lee against Merthyr's hefty pack.

Dragons wing Tom Prydie played 40 minutes against the Black and Ambers and continues his road to recovery after a nine-month lay-off courtesy of ruptured knee ligaments.

Bargoed aim to repeat last season's home Championship win over Swansea when the teams meet in the top flight this afternoon.

Their 24-11 success was vital in edging out Pontypool for one of the promotion spots to join the All Whites, Merthyr and RGC 1404 in the Premiership.

While the Ironmen and north Walians have started with wins, Bargoed and Swansea have suffered defeats.

The hosts are traditionally a strong side on their own turf so will be looking to get up and running with captain and prop Rhys Morgan leading the way and number eight Ross Coombs back after missing last week's heavy loss at Llandovery.

Ebbw Vale (v Newport): D Haymond, C Levesley, J Howells, D Langdon, R Gardner, J Lewis, C Thomas, R Jones, M Williams, G Robinson, D Hudd (captain), J Bartlett, R Clarke, R Kynes, H Keddie. Replacements: J Franchi, I George, R Sevenoaks, E Doyle, J Jacas, R Pitman, B Ellis, W Talbot-Davies.

Newport (at Ebbw Vale): G O'Driscoll, A Hewitt, T Riley, C Smith, E Frewen, A Robson, O Davies, J Lavender, H Palmer, G Harris, Adam Brown (captain), R Jones, R Tucker, C Attwell, B Lampitt. Replacements: K Bale, M Prosser, T Piper, J Goodey, K Tayler, R James, M O'Brien, O Williams.

Cross Keys (v Neath): J Prosser, M Powell, L Andrews, B Nightingale, J Unwin, GR Jones, J Leadbeater, L Smout, D Hughes, G Carpenter, D Hodge, T Lampard, J Skinner, S Matthews (captain), I Jones. Replacements: E Shipp, C Hewlett, C Coleman, S Williams, A Powell, N Williams, R Pritchard, L Barnett.

Bedwas (at Merthyr): A Bramwell, T Prydie, C Edwards, JS Dixon, P Lewis, R Powell (captain), N Griffiths, D Preece, A Rees, M Pettit, R Blake, J Davies, A Waite, J Richards, J Benjamin. Replacements: B Toms, J Haines, R Hutcherson, T Bell, G Lee, L Crane, J Dixon, P Pariyo

Bargoed (v Swansea): J Purcell, L Hudd, D Humphries, P Price, D Evans, S Withers, J Pizey, R Morgan (captain), I Jenkins, K Brown, L Blacker, B Morgan, A Coupe, G Rogers, R Coombs. Replacements: J Williams, A Lott, L Meades, A Herbert, J Locke, M Bancroft, L Bowden, A Norton

Other fixtures: Aberavon v Carmarthen Q, Llanelli v Pontypridd, RGC 1404 v Llandovery