THE DREAM of knockout rugby may be gone but Cross Keys have plenty to play for when they welcome Bedford to Pandy Park in the British and Irish Cup tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm).

Keys failed to record a match point for the first time in this season's cross-border competition when they suffered a 30-21 home defeat to Cornish Pirates last Friday.

It leaves them unable to catch unbeaten Pool Four leaders Doncaster and highly unlikely to finish with a points tally that will earn one of three best runners-up spots.

Tomorrow's opponents Bedford are in the same boat after suffering a two-point loss to the Knights at Goldington Road last weekend.

It may be a dead rubber Keys head coach Greg Woods expects his charges to show the same level as commitment against the Blues as they have in all four previous fixtures.

"Qualification has gone but we can go out with our heads held high," said Woods. "We've been ultra competitive in this group and that needs to continue in these last two games.

"I don't want us to tail off. The effort and attitude has been great and there is still plenty for us to play for given that we haven't won at home in the tournament."

With a 14-13 lead and the wind and slope in their favour, Keys looked set to beat the Pirates approaching the final quarter last Friday.

But a hip injury to Angus O'Brien put paid to their hopes despite the best efforts of scrum-half James Leadbeater as an emergency 10.

Woods said: "Things just didn't fall our way against the Pirates. I was feeling confident on 55 minutes but then Angus got injured.

"We paid the price of our risk of going without a specialist 10 on the bench and it would certainly have been closer if he had stayed on."

Keys will field Dragons centre Jack Dixon in midfield as the 19-year-old centre from Newbridge continues to get back to full fitness following surgery on the wrist he injured against the Ospreys in September.

A regional player comes into midfield but a Keys regular returns to the second row with influential lock Danny Hodge replacing Matthew Screech.

Keys once again field a large Dragons contingent but are poised to bring more regulars back at Doncaster next weekend as they gear up for a big Principality Premiership encounter with champions Pontypridd at Sardis Road on December 20.