STEFFAN Jones played a huge role in helping Cross Keys to the final of the British and Irish Cup two years ago but this afternoon the fly-half will attempt to put the boot into the Pandy Park side.

The 23-year-old from Bargoed is currently on loan at Bedford from Newport Gwent Dragons and will start for the Blues at Goldington Road today (kick-off 3pm).

Jones earned his shot at the Dragons by impressing at Pandy Park and made 57 appearances for the club, scoring 588 points.

He was a vital figure in Keys' trip to the final of the BIC in 2012, scoring 22 points against Llanelli in a 32-8 quarter-final success before kicking 10 points in the tight 20-16 win against Cornish Pirates in the semi-final at Pandy Park.

However, an ankle injury sustained in the closing stages against the Pirates meant he had to sit out the final against Munster A in Cork as well as the Swalec Cup final success against Pontypridd at the Millennium Stadium.

But Jones is a club favourite and relishing a reunion with some familiar faces.

"I'm going to find it odd to be in the other changing room to Keys but I'm looking forward to going up against them," said Jones.

"It's not quite the usual Keys side because of the number of Dragons but it will be good to catch up with some old teammates and with the likes of (director of rugby) Jonathan Westwood and (head coach) Greg Woods, who did a lot for me."

Both sides suffered narrow defeats on the opening weekend of the cross-border competition, Keys having to settle for a pair of bonus points after being edged out 37-32 by Doncaster while Bedford suffered last-gasp heartbreak at Cornish Pirates.

It leaves both sides with little margin for error if they want to make the quarter-finals.

"It will probably come down to bonus points or who can cause an upset away from home," said Jones, who scored his first try for Bedford in the 35-34 loss in Penzance.

"It's going to be a tight group and I think that whoever goes through will probably fancy their chances of going all the way.

"We have been playing quite well but haven't had the bounce of the ball in a fair few games. We are a new bunch of boys and things are coming together, so hopefully we can get the win this weekend."

Jones holds the record for the most amount of points scored in a Dragons game after booting seven penalties and three conversions against London Welsh in 2013.

His region could still call him back from his loan if needed but for now Jones is just concentrating on impressing with the Blues.

"I am enjoying it and I think that the move has given me a new lease of life," he said. "One of the main reasons for coming to Bedford was to work with (former Cardiff and Wales full-back/fly-half) Mike Rayer, he has got so much experience and he has been great to learn off.

"The Championship is a really good, tough league to play in and I am sure the experience will make me a better player."

Keys were pleased with their performance in defeat to Doncaster and name the same XV, featuring a front row of senior Dragons.

The bench is bolstered by the presence of all-action flanker Scott Matthews, who was unavailable last weekend, and lock Scott Andrews, who was on Dragons duty.

Cross Keys: G R Jones, A Hewitt, L Andrews (captain), B Nightingale, P Uhi, D Jones, L Jones, P Price, R Buckley, D Young, D Hodge, S Williams, J Skinner, O Griffiths, A Powell. Replacements: D Hughes, L Garrett, A Jeffries, S Andrews, S Matthews, J Cordy-Redden, J Leadbeater.