CROSS Keys still firmly believe they can reach the knock-out stages of the British and Irish Cup, vice captain Adam Powell says.

His side must beat Cornish Pirates at home on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm) to keep their tournament dreams alive.

One of the Gwent outfit’s proudest moment came on Saturday, April 12, 2012 when they upset the full-time professionals at Pandy Park in the semi-final of the competition.

The Pirates were red-hot favourites to win that day, but two Kristian Baller tries and 10 points from the boot of Steffan Jones saw Keys record a momentous 20-16 triumph, although they couldn’t bring the trophy home after losing to Munster A in Cork in the final later that month.

Pirates avenged that shock setback when they edged Keys in a 34-33 thriller in Penzance last month.

But Pool four is still wide open after the Cornishmen were deprived of what would have been a victory for not going down to 14 men when they went to uncontested scrums late in a 35-34 win against Bedford, overturned by the organising committee into a six-point defeat.

Former Cardiff Blues number eight Powell, 28, is full of confidence the 2012 finalists can topple Pirates again, go on to beat Bedford at home next week, thus setting up a potential winner takes all away clash with table topping Doncaster on December 13.

After an unsure start to the season, Keys looked to have turned a corner after securing 11 points in their last three Principality Premiership encounters and their two other British and Irish Cup games saw them lose just 37-32 to Doncaster at home before beating Bedford 23-22 away.

Powell said: “The three games we’ve played so far in the BIC, there’s only been a few points in them all so we now are very competitive against these sides.

“And we go into Friday night’s game full of confidence after beating two quality sides in Llanelli, Carmarthen Quins and drawing with Llandovery in the league.

“We are still very much in the mix and we’ll be targeting wins over the Pirates and Bedford at home and hope to go up to Doncaster for the last pool match with everything to play for.

“If we can go up there and qualify, that will be one hell of a weekend.”

Powell, who joined Keys from Neath for the beginning of the 2012/13 season, added: “The pleasing thing is, we are beating these teams or just losing by a point or two, while some other Welsh sides like Aberavon are getting thumped.

“We’ve got some great young talented players here like Darren Hughes at hooker, loosehead Luke Garrett, openside Scott Matthews and Angus O’Brien at No 10.”

Another young player who has impressed is Jack Condy who played at number eight during Keys’ hard-earned 20-15 triumph over Quins last Friday night before Powell replaced him in the 71st minute.

“Jack is another to look out for,” Powell said. “He is only 19, but he scares the living daylights out of me!”