FOUR years after signing off with a defeat to champions Neath, Ebbw Vale make their long-awaited return to the Principality Premiership this afternoon.

The Steelmen welcome Llandovery to Eugene Cross Park and are a much-changed club from the one that dropped out of the top flight in 2009/10.

They used a whopping 59 players in a shocking campaign that saw them win just five games and score 23 tries in 26 games.

Ebbw regrouped under coaches Neil Edwards, who left in 2012, and Jason Strange to win four titles on the spin.

They return to the Premiership with a settled side and a strong pack, hence most expect them to steer clear of a relegation dogfight.

Vale will be gunning for revenge this afternoon after being dumped out of the Swalec Cup in the last eight by the Drovers in March.

Llandovery are one of the Premiership's top teams and it would be a huge statement if the Steelmen can send them packing.

Cross Keys ring the changes for their opener at Aberavon with seven players coming into the XV that thrashed Newport 31-12 to secure a spot in the British and Irish Cup.

Hooker Jon Howard and blindside flanker Carl Townsend make their first starts for the club while fly-half Dorian Jones, centre Phil Williams, wing Elliot Jones and full-back Ryan Lee also come into the starting line-up.

Scrum-half James Leadbeater is on the bench after signing from Ebbw Vale while Dragons Academy flanker Josh Skinner is also among the replacements after recovering from a broken hand suffered in pre-season.

Keys finished as runners-up to Pontypridd in the Premiership last season while Aberavon narrowly avoided relegation but the Wizards triumphed 27-26 in the corresponding fixture.

Newport aim to bounce back from a very disappointing display at Pandy Park by starting with a win in Carmarthen.

The Black and Ambers had been good when beating Bedwas 41-25 the previous week and will need to hit those standards if they are to maintain their excellent record against the Quins.

They have won seven of eight games in Carmarthen and produced one of their best performances of last season out west when winning 25-21.

Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt comes into the side while lock Dan Partridge and flanker Rhys Jenkins are asked to bring some oomph to the pack.

Bedwas are boosted by the return of James Thomas for their Bridge Field encounter with Llanelli tomorrow.

The 24-year-old's exploits for the club earned a one-year Dragons deal and he slots in at number eight to get some game time after sitting out the region's first two Pro12 fixtures.

Wales Under-20s scrum-half Luc Jones will make his return from a knee injury from the bench.

Ebbw Vale (v Llandovery): D Haymond, W Cunliffe, N Preece, D A Jones, O Williams, I Smerdon, D L Jones, R Jones, M Williams, G Robinson, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, C Regan, R Kynes, S Gibson. Replacements: J Franchi, A Harris, J Lavender, R Clarke, R Sevenoaks, C Thomas, E Davies, J Howells.

Cross Keys (at Aberavon): R Lee, E Jones, L Andrews (captain), P Williams, J Cordy-Redden, D Jones, R James, L Garrett, J Howard, A Lott, D Hodge, S Andrews, C Townsend, S Matthews, A Powell. D Hughes, K Bale, C Gould, J Skinner, N Williams, N Trowbridge, J Leadbeater, R Tucker.

Newport (at Carmarthen Quins): J Murphy, A Hewitt, N Edwards, D Franchi, J Morris, M O'Brien, O Davies, L Jenkins, D Rogers, A Jeffries, D Partridge, Adam Brown, R Jenkins, O Griffiths (captain), B Lampitt. Replacements: W Evans, J Greenfield, J Monck, A Frampton, S Feehan, A Quick, C Rees, O Broad.

Bedwas (v Llanelli, tomorrow): H Thompson, R Budina, A Pinches, P Davies, L Hudd, R Powell, L Crane, B Toms, A Rees, I Jenkins, P Rees, J Walker, A Lee, J Sawyer, J Thomas. Replacements: R Hutcherson, D Preece, M Pettit, D Crimmins, S Grainger, L Jones, J Maynard, M John.