CENTRE Gareth Maule returns to the Ebbw Vale side today more than a decade after first pulling on the green and white of the Eugene Cross Park outfit.

The player/coach’s inclusion for Ebbw’s crunch home clash against Cross Keys this afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm) is the only change to the team that edged out Cardiff 24-20 on New Year’s Eve.

If Ebbw beat Keys they will seal their place in the top eight of the Principality Premiership – today’s fixtures are the last before the league splits in two for the second part of the season.

Should Keys come out on top then Cardiff, providing they defeat Bedwas, would claim the final top eight place instead.

Bedwas, whose top eight position is already sealed, could move up to second if they prevail at the Arms Park.

James Dixon replaces Richard Powell at fly-half, while Dragons hooker Darran Harris, Myles Churcher, on permit from Glamorgan Wanderers, and Rory Budina are among the replacements.

Newport, like Keys, are resigned to life in the bottom eight of the Premiership for the remainder of the season.

They go to bottom club Bargoed today with coach Craig Warlow making six changes to the side that routed RGC 1404.

Tom Piper and Kyle Tayler get the nod in the pack and Wes Cunliffe, Haydn Palmer, Matt O’Brien and Owen Davies come into the backline.

Elsewhere, Aberavon host Merthyr, Carmarthen Quins entertain Bridgend, Llandovery visit Llanelli, Swansea go to Neath and Pontypridd travel to RGC 1404.

Bedwas (at Cardiff): A Bramwell; M John, A Williams, M Callow, P Lewis; J Dixon, L Crane; D Preece (capt), A Rees, M Pettit, J Davies, G Edmunds, A Waite, G Lee, R Blake. Reps: B Toms, D Harris, K Dowding, R Verney, D Crimmins, M Churcher, J S Dixon, R Budina.

Bargoed (v Newport): J Hallett; A Norton, D Humphries, L Prothero, D Evans; J Mogg, J Pizey; R Morgan, L Meades (capt), K Brown, L Blacker, J Locke, L Weyman, A Coupe, J Coombs. Reps: M Bancroft, D Dyer, L Bowden, L Dyckhoff, J Jacas, A Gardner-Key, I Jenkins, J Williams.

Newport (at Bargoed): L Ap Myrddin; W Cunliffe, C Smith, Ha Palmer, E Frewen; M O’Brien, O Davies; J Greenfield, He Palmer, T Piper, A Brown (capt), D Partridge, R Jones, K Tayler, R Jenkins. Reps: E Whitson, K Bale, J Lavender, D Mock, C Attwell, R James, G O’Driscoll, J Morris.

Ebbw Vale (v Cross Keys): D Haymond, N Preece, G Maule, D Langdon, C Duncan; J Lewis, D Jones; R Jones, J Franchi, G Robinson; J Davies, D Hudd (capt), R Clarke, R Kynes, H Keddie. Reps: J Bowen, I George, R Sevenoaks, M Williams, D Rubasniak, C Thomas, R Gardner, S Majkic.

Cross Keys (at Ebbw Vale): TBC.