CROSS Keys will attempt to avoid another sob story when they make the short trip to Bedwas in the Principality Premiership this afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm).

The men from Pandy Park could have easily been sitting on 10 points with leaders Pontypridd but have instead mustered just two points after frustrating losses to Llandovery and Cardiff.

They feel that both games should have been won and their error count will need to be reduced against a Bedwas side that did the league double over them last season and who have started the season solidly.

Steve Law’s side recorded an excellent win at Carmarthen Quins on opening day and fought back for a bonus point at Aberavon last week.

Keys make five changes to the side that lost to the Blue and Blacks and hand a debut to Josh Prosser at fly-half with Ethan Davies moving to full-back. James Leadbeater will get plenty of game time in the coming weeks at scrum-half after Richie Rees’ hamstring tear and his deputy is Dragons academy prospect Owain Leonard.

Bedwas welcome back prolific fly-half Richard Powell and he will hope that Dragons youngsters George Gasson and Connor Edwards, on the wing and in midfield, continue their encouraging start to the campaign outside him.

However, it’s up front where the game will be decided and the hosts field a strong tight five with captain Dan Preece joined by Alun Rees and Joe Mills in the front row while summer signing from Bargoed Geraint Edmunds will look to continue to impress alongside Dragons prospect Joe Davies in the second row.

There were good signs in Newport’s opening against Ebbw Vale last week but the Black and Ambers failed to score more than a Barney Nightingale try in a lively start.

They eventually went down 30-6 and they cannot afford to be as profligate against champions Pontypridd at Rodney Parade.

After winning at Neath on opening day, Craig Warlow and his new-look coaching team will be content with the start made by their charges but they will have to raise their game against Ponty.

The champions lost just two games to Welsh opposition last season – to Bridgend in the league in January and again to the Ravens in the Swalec Cup final – and have started impressively, demolishing Llanelli and then gaining revenge for that Millennium Stadium upset.

Wing Wes Cunliffe, a summer arrival from Ebbw, and former Bargoed hooker Alex Watkins make their Newport debuts while prop Josh Powell could make his Black and Ambers bow from the bench. Experienced scrum-half Ryan James is recalled to partner Dragons academy fly-half Arwel Robson.

Ebbw Vale have gone about their business pretty well so far and will fancy their chance of making it three from three when they welcome Neath to Eugene Cross Park.

The Steelmen have beaten Bridgend and Newport but have declared there is plenty more to come from them as last year’s runners-up attempt to go one better.

Coach Nigel Davies is able to bolster his pack by giving first starts of the campaign to tighthead Rob Sevenoaks, lock Ashley Sweet and flanker Cameron Regan.

Bedwas (v Cross Keys): K Clabby, M John, C Edwards, A Williams, G Gasson, R Powell, D Jones, D Preece (captain), A Rees, J Mills, J Davies, G Edmunds, A Waite, G Lee, D Mattravers. Replacements: R Wilkes, B Toms, M Pettit, C Tucker, S Feehan, L Crane, J Dixon, R Budina.

Cross Keys (at Bedwas): E Davies, E Jones, L Andrews (captain), P Williams, P Uhi, J Prosser, J Leadbeater, R Cornock, D Hughes, L Brown, D Hodge, S Williams, I Jones, S Matthews, A Powell. Replacements: E Shipp, L Garrett, A Lott, J Skinner, N Trowbridge, C Povey, O Leonard, T Lampard.

Newport (v Pontypridd): L Ap Myrddin, W Cunliffe, H Palmer, B Nightingale, E Frewen, A Robson, R James, J Greenfield, A Watkins, A Jeffries, Adam Brown (captain), D Partridge, R Jenkins, O Griffiths, B Lampitt. Replacements : M Prosser, E Whitson, J Powell, C Attwell, B Morgan, Owen Davies, M O'Brien, E Howley.

Ebbw Vale (v Neath): D Williams, S Jones, J Howells, D Franchi, T Watkins, I Smerdon, L Jones; R Jones, M Williams, R Sevenoaks; D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, L Crocker, C Regan, H Keddie. Replacements: J Franchi, K Bale, L Fairbrother, J Bartlett, E Doyle, C Thomas, J Rosser, D Haymond.

Other fixtures: Bridgend v Llandovery, Carmarthen Quins v Aberavon, Llanelli v Cardiff.