EBBW Vale and Bedwas will begin their push for the Principality Premiership title against each other at Eugene Cross Park when the league resumes next month.

The first part of the Premiership season came to a climax on January 7 when the league split in two – Ebbw and Bedwas finished in the top eight, Cross Keys, Newport and Bargoed the bottom eight.

All teams in both halves now play each other once more before play-off semi-finals involving the top four sides in the two tiers and then finals on May 20.

While the Steelmen and Bedwas meet first up in tier one on Saturday, February 4, Keys host Llanelli, Newport go to Bridgend and Bargoed visit Swansea in tier two.

After facing Bedwas, Ebbw, who squeezed into tier one, host Aberavon before going to Carmarthen Quins – they also face another trip north to RGC 1404 who put 50 points on them earlier this term.

Steve Law’s Bedwas make the trip to Quins for their second game and then welcome Merthyr to Bridge Field.

Head coach Law said: “We’re chuffed to have finished where we did (second) having performed so well in the first part of the season.

“As at the start of the season, it will be important to have a good start in this new section of the league, and it will be tough for us to go away twice but if we can get a win out of those first two games I’ll be pleased.

“We’ve got a mature, experienced side with some youth and freshness with the likes of Robson Blake, who’s impressed, and Nicky Griffiths, who’s added something to the group.

“It’s not a big squad and we’ll stand or fall on the availability of our players – if we manage to stay fit and healthy I’m confident we can do well.”

Meanwhile, Keys chief Greg Woods added: "We've got some good fixtures to look forward to and we must learn some lessons from the start of the season and get off to a good start rather than play catch up.

"We're disappointed not to be in the top eight but we're pleased with our recent performances, even in the defeats to Pontypridd and Ebbw Vale over Christmas, and we've got to build on those."

FIXTURES

TIER 1

ROUND 16 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4; EBBW VALE v BEDWAS, LLANDOVERY v ABERAVON, PONTYPRIDD v CARMARTHEN QUINS, RGC 1404 v MERTHYR.

ROUND 17 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11; EBBW VALE v ABERAVON, CARMARTHEN QUINS v BEDWAS, LLANDOVERY v RGC 1404, MERTHYR v PONTYPRIDD.

ROUND 18 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25; ABERAVON v RGC 1404, CARMARTHEN QUINS v EBBW VALE, BEDWAS v MERTHYR, PONTYPRIDD v LLANDOVERY.

ROUND 19 – SATURDAY, MARCH 18; EBBW VALE v PONTYPRIDD, MERTHYR v LLANDOVERY, RGC 1404 v BEDWAS, CARMARTHEN QUINS V ABERAVON.

ROUND 20 – SATURDAY, APRIL 8; RGC 1404 v EBBW VALE, MERTHYR v CARMARTHEN QUINS, ABERAVON v PONTYPRIDD, BEDWAS v LLANDOVERY.

ROUND 21 – SATURDAY, APRIL 29; LLANDOVERY v EBBW VALE, BEDWAS v PONTYPRIDD, MERTHYR v ABERAVON, RGC 1404 v CARMARTHEN QUINS.

ROUND 22 – SATURDAY, MAY 6; EBBW VALE v MERTHYR, PONTYPRIDD v RGC 1404, LLANDOVERY v CARMARTHEN QUINS, ABERAVON v BEDWAS.

TIER 2

ROUND 16 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4; SWANSEA v BARGOED, CARDIFF v NEATH, CROSS KEYS v LLANELLI, BRIDGEND v NEWPORT.

ROUND 17 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11; BARGOED v NEWPORT, CROSS KEYS v BRIDGEND, LLANELLI v NEATH, CARDIFF v SWANSEA.

ROUND 18 – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25; NEATH v BARGOED, SWANSEA v CROSS KEYS, NEWPORT v CARDIFF, LLANELLI v BRIDGEND.

ROUND 19 – SATURDAY, MARCH 18; CROSS KEYS v BARGOED, NEATH v NEWPORT, BRIDGEND v SWANSEA, CARDIFF v LLANELLI.

ROUND 20 – SATURDAY, APRIL 8; LLANELLI v BARGOED, BRIDGEND v CARDIFF, NEATH v CROSS KEYS, NEWPORT v SWANSEA.

ROUND 21 – SATURDAY, APRIL 29; BARGOED v BRIDGEND, NEWPORT v LLANELLI, CROSS KEYS v CARDIFF, SWANSEA v NEATH.

ROUND 22 – SATURDAY, MAY 6; BARGOED v CARDIFF, LLANELLI v SWANSEA, NEATH v BRIDGEND, NEWPORT v CROSS KEYS.