HEAD coach Greg Woods has warned Cross Keys that they ill afford to be chasing the game against bogey side Bedwas in what promises to be a tense Swalec Cup quarter-final at Pandy Park.

Keys are in red-hot form in the Principality Premiership and last Sunday's excellent 24-19 success at Carmarthen Quins leaves them with a great chance to not only qualify for the playoffs but earn a home semi-final.

They have won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions but there is no danger of confidence turning to complacency on Saturday against a Bedwas side that have had their number this season.

"We've lost three times to Bedwas, once in pre-season in Ystrad Mynach and twice in the league, and we don't want a fourth," said Woods, whose team were beaten 29-25 at Pandy Park in September and 37-31 at Bridge Field in January. "This is the big one and we have got to keep our form going from recent weeks.

"The contact area and set piece is massive against Bedwas. They can disrupt your ball really well and they have also added an extra dimension in attack in recent seasons.

"They are a side that can score points really quickly when they get momentum and that makes you overplay and play into their hands at the breakdown.

"That means that we have been drumming home the importance of starting well because you cannot afford to be chasing games in the cup."

Third-placed Keys' stunning run has put to an end the playoff hopes of sixth-placed Bedwas, who have been in pretty impressive form themselves since the turn of the year.

They have won seven from ten games but last Friday's narrow 28-24 loss at Llandovery means the cup is their main focus.

"After committing suicide at Llandovery when we were 24-11 up this is our last chance at a successful season," said head coach Steve Law, who also pointed to the scrum and contact areas as holding the key at Pandy Park.

"It'll need to be our best performance of the season because Cross Keys are the form side at the moment along with Pontypridd.

"We have done well against them this year but previous games count for nothing. Our games are usually competitive and I am expecting nothing but eyeballs out, cup final attitude from both teams."

Keys are set to stick with a similar side that toppled Carmarthen with in-form back row forward Jack Condy, 20, continuing at number eight after his brace out west.

"Jack has done really well recently and has put in some big performances for us but this will be a great challenge for him against a very strong Bedwas back row," said Woods.

Bedwas are set to be boosted by the returns of tighthead prop Joe Mills, lock Josh Walker and back row forward Dan Crimmins.