EBBW Vale are looking to start their derby against Newport with a bang as they bid to maintain their dream return to the Principality Premiership.

The Steelmen welcome the Black and Ambers to Eugene Cross Park for the first time since March, 2010 and are aiming for a third bonus point on the spin while the visitors are yet to get off the mark.

Ebbw beat Llandovery 30-29 on opening day and recovered from a nightmare start at Neath last week to emerge as 29-18 victors.

Tomorrow they host a Newport side that fought gallantly against Pontypridd last Friday but who struggled at the driving lineout, an area of real strength for the Steelmen over recent seasons.

They have become so adept at shunting the opposition over the line that their supporters have labelled the scores 'catch 'n' Kynes' after their popular openside Ronny, who steers the ship and frequently gets his name on the scoresheet.

Ebbw have a pack that will be a handful for most of their Premiership rivals but, after falling 18-5 behind to the Drovers and trailing Neath 15-0, assistant coach Duane Goodfield has stressed that they can ill afford to keep playing catch-up.

"It's been a great start and we have fought back in both games but against Newport we need to make a big start and show our intent from the first whistle," he said.

"It's a derby so it will be a physical encounter and the battle at the contact area will be especially fierce.

"We've enjoyed two wins but there is still massive room for improvement and to be fair the boys have identified areas of our game that need work.

"We have a strong squad and there is plenty of competition for places, that helps make sure there is no room for complacency."

Newport started the season well by beating Bedwas 41-25 in a British and Irish Cup qualifier at Bridge Field but it has been downhill since then.

They lost out to Cross Keys for a place in the cross-border competition and have suffered a pair of league defeats to Carmarthen Quins and Pontypridd.

The Black and Ambers have shipped 15 tries in four games but captain Ollie Griffiths saw reason for optimism after the 34-12 defeat to Ponty that the champions admitted flattered them.

"We've had a tough start against the top two from last year with a lot of new boys trying to settle in," said the openside flanker from Newbridge, who at 19 is the youngest captain in Newport's history.

"We are starting to gel now and I think it was a decent performance against a quality Pontypridd side, although we let things slip in the last 10 minutes when they scored from the driving maul.

"The performance was a lot better than in Carmarthen and there were a lot of positives, but there is still plenty for us to improve on for Ebbw Vale.

"I've never played at Eugene Cross Park but I know it will be a tough old slog up there and we will have to be on top of our game."