THREE Gwent sides are gunning for western wins to strengthen their positions in the top half of the Principality Premiership this afternoon.

Champions Ebbw Vale, currently eighth with a game in hand, travel to struggling Neath on the back of home wins against Newport and Bridgend that have got them up and running in the bid to be eighth or up when the January split occurs.

The Steelmen threw away a winning position at Llanelli on opening weekend so will be looking for a first away win of the campaign against the Welsh All Blacks, who were edged out by Bedwas last time out.

Ebbw boss Nigel Davies will be looking for his meaty front five to produce the goods with the fit-again Ashley Sweet joining Damien Hudd in the second row behind Ross Jones, Mathew Williams and Gethin Robinson.

Cross Keys are buoyant after home successes against Neath and Swansea but will find things tougher on their travels to Carmarthen Quins, who edged them out 21-20 in the semi-finals of last season's Swalec Cup.

Seventh-placed Keys are boosted by the return of powerful Wales Under-20s tighthead Leon Brown while his fellow Dragon Geraint Rhys Jones comes in at fly-half with Josh Prosser returning to full-back.

Jones, whose younger brother Dorian made a return from injury off the bench for Keys last weekend, kicked 18 points against Neath and his left boot could be vital at Carmarthen Park.

Bedwas have made a marvellous start to the season to sit in fourth ahead of their trip to Llandovery.

They are the only side to have beaten Merthyr, who romped to a 50-26 win at Newport on Thursday, and showed spirit to come through a tricky test against Neath last weekend.

Head coach Steve Law makes four changes to his XV with prop Dan Preece, lock Robson Blake, number eight Andrew Waite and scrum-half Nicky Griffiths starting.

Bedwas boast plenty of pace behind in the shape of Dragons young guns Connor Edwards, George Gasson and Pat Lewis. Last season the Drovers did the double, winning 38-32 in the west and then 28-16 in Gwent.

Bargoed have made a solid start to life in the Premiership on home turf with an agonising last-gasp loss to Neath and an excellent bonus point success against Swansea.

They attempt to keep that going this afternoon when they host a Llanelli side who have lost three on the spin since stunning Ebbw.

Bargoed pushed Aberavon hard last week before going down 45-25 after some late tries. Repeat such a performance and they could be chalking up win number two in the top flight.

Ebbw Vale (at Neath): W Talbot-Davies, C Levesley, J Howells, D Langdon, J Rosser, J Lewis, B Ellis, R Jones, M Williams, G Robinson, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, R Clarke, D Rubasniak, R Pitman. Replacements: J Franchi, R Sevenoaks, I George, J Bartlett, E Doyle, C Thomas, R Kynes, D Haymond.

Cross Keys (at Carmarthen Quins): J Prosser, M Powell, L Andrews, N Williams, N Trowbridge, GR Jones, J Leadbeater, R Cornock, D Hughes, L Brown, D Hodge, T Lampard, J Skinner, S Matthews (captain), I Jones. Replacements: E Shipp, L Smout, G Carpenter, S Williams, A Powell, E Davies, O Leonard, P Uhi

Bedwas (at Llandovery): A Bramwell, G Gasson, C Edwards, JS Dixon, P Lewis, R Powell (captain), N Griffiths, D Preece, A Rees, M Pettit, J Davies, R Blake, J Richards, G Lee, A Waite. Replacements: B Toms, D Harris, R Hutcherson, G Edmunds, D Crimmins, N Hudd, L Crane, H Thompson.

Bargoed (v Llanelli): J Purcell, A Norton, L Smalley, L Protheroe, D Evans, C Jones, M Bancroft, R Morgan (captain), I Jenkins, K Brown, J Locke, B Morgan, A Coupe, G Rogers, L Beach. Replacements: J Williams, A Lott, L Meades, L Blacker, A Herbert, J Pizey, S Winters, P Price

Other fixtures: Bridgend v Pontypridd, RGC 1404 v Aberavon, Swansea v Cardiff