GREG Woods has demanded his Ebbw Vale hit the heights of their last Eugene Cross Park performance when they entertain Llanelli after letting their standards slip.
The Steelmen host the winless and bottom west Walians tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm) after somehow grabbing a consolation bonus point in defeat to Pontypridd last Friday.
Ebbw produced an error-strewn display but barged over from a driving lineout at the death for Dan Haymond's conversion of captain Ashley Sweet's try to make it 32-25.
Woods was pleased with his team's character to salvage a bonus but was frustrated at the drop off from the previous week, when they earned a bonus-point success on home soil.
"We were 8/10 against Llandovery and 3/10 against Pontypridd, and that was just through accuracy," he said.
"We couldn't hold the ball, everything was dropping, so we've got to be better.
"There were some poor performances at Pontypridd and a lot of the boys didn't turn up, and that's frustrating because we were so good against Llandovery."
Ebbw have seven points from four games and are six ahead of Llanelli, who are bottom and in the solitary relegation spot.
With no weak teams in this year's Premiership it promises to be a fierce battle to avoid the drop and that makes this weekend's tussle vitally important, even in these early rounds of the campaign.
"It's going to be a big scrap against Llanelli," said Woods. "I have no doubt that we will be in similar positions in the league and it's a huge game, even though it's only the end of October.
"Our minds are focused and we've had a big week. We have to play like we did against Llandovery."
To that end, Woods wants his much-changed squad to learn from a stalwart.
"We are going to have ups and downs but I always use the example of Dan Haymond to the new boys," said the head coach.
"We play him at full-back, we play him at fly-half but he turns up every week and is 8/10. That's the challenge for the new boys on this journey, but we know that we have to take the rough with the smooth."
(pictured above: Merthyr's Craig Locke and Newport's Rhys Jenkins ahead of the 2018 WRU National Cup final)
Newport are currently level on point with Ebbw, albeit with a game in hand.
The Black and Ambers play their first league game of the campaign at Rodney Parade on Sunday when they entertain a Merthyr side who have made a surprising stuttering start to the defence of their title.
The Ironmen have lost three of four games but Newport, who have had to settle for losing bonuses away to Aberavon and Swansea after starting with a win at Ebbw, know a stern challenge awaits them.
Merthyr have won all three games at Rodney Parade since winning promotion to the Premiership and have boss Dale McIntosh back at the helm after he was part of Namibia's World Cup coaching team.
"They are a quality team and will be physical, coming around the corner hard and with a strong set piece," said Newport captain and flanker Rhys Jenkins.
"You've got to play attacking rugby against Merthyr and can't just sit back in defence or they overpower you.
"We've done well against them on the road in the last two years and now we need to have the same approach at home after a mixed start."
Premiership fixtures: Aberavon v Llandovery, Bridgend v Pontypridd, Carmarthen Quins v Swansea, Ebbw Vale v Llanelli, RGC v Cardiff, Newport v Merthyr (Sunday)
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