CROSS Keys head into tonight’s game with Newport at Pandy Park looking for a Gwent Grand Slam, writes Chris Kirwan.

Keys have beaten Pontypool and Bedwas both home and away and will be looking to repeat their Boxing Day victory against the Black and Ambers at Rodney Parade.

Tonight’s encounter is between two of the Premiership’s in-form teams with the hosts looking to boost their bid for the play-offs and the visitors looking for their sixth league win out of seven.

Keys head into the game on the back of a thumping 42-7 bonus point win against Swansea and a win this evening could take them into the top three.

"To have taken five points against Swansea was fantastic, as was the manner in which we did it," said head coach Greg Woods.

"We beat them without players like Kristian Baller, Leon Andrews and Jevon Groves, Robert Nash and Marc Jones. That’s real strength in depth.

"And the boys who won against Swansea put in a great shift. Guys like Lewis Rawlins and Cae Trayhern were outstanding.

"Our biggest issue now is selection. Boys are fighting for places. They all want to play against Newport."

Unlike Keys, the Black and Ambers’ woeful start to the season means that are no longer playing for silverware.

However, they showed tremendous spirit to beat title-chasing Pontypridd last Friday, defending magnificently in a 24-15 success.

"We have been banging the drum about defence and it seems to be clicking," said head coach Sven Cronk. "We have been trying to up the vocals and the boys are eager to get up off the line, shut the tackle lane down, make the hit and win the collision.

"They did that against Pontypridd. It was a great win and it really showed that the boys are playing for each other. They worked hard and hats off to them."

But their victory at Rodney Parade did come at a cost with opensides Rhys Jenkins and Craig Hill both suffering knee injuries.