CROSS Keys will be looking to draw on the memories of their 2012 triumph tomorrow when they travel to Glynneath in the first round of this season’s WRU National Cup (kick-off 2.30pm).

The Pandy Park outfit lifted the cup for the first time in their history five years ago after a 32-19 defeat of Pontypridd in Cardiff.

Pontypridd avenged that loss in the 2014 final, while Keys missed out on another trip to the capital last term following a painful 21-20 semi-final reverse to eventual runners-up Carmarthen Quins.

And another good cup run this time around certainly wouldn’t go amiss with Keys out of the Foster’s Challenge Cup and unable to challenge for top spot in the Principality Premiership.

The Gwent club was 12th in the table when the league split into two tiers of eight sides each earlier this month, leaving them to battle it out for the title of best of the rest.

Opponents Glynneath are eighth in the 12-team Championship, although 11 points separate fifth-placed Bedlinog and Glamorgan Wanderers in 10th.

Inconsistency has been a big problem for tomorrow’s hosts – only once this season have they managed to string together a run of two or more league wins.

However, they do have a game, or two, in hand on the rest of the teams in the Championship and will take heart from their last outing on January 14 when they beat Bedlinog on home soil.

Meanwhile, further up the A465, Newbridge go to big spenders Merthyr (2.30pm) as huge underdogs to make the second round.

A win for the Championship outfit on the artificial playing surface at the Wern would represent arguably the biggest shock of round one given the Ironmen’s financial clout.

Merthyr, promoted from the Championship at the end of last season, are backed by millionaire Stan Thomas.