CROSS Keys have endured a tough start to the Principality Premiership season but head coach Greg Woods believes a tricky trip to Bedwas should "sharpen the mind".

The Pandy Park side have been tipped by many as one to watch as they chase qualification for the play-offs for the third season on the spin.

However, they have lost two games that they felt they should have won, losing 30-20 at Llandovery after dominating the first half and then failing to take their chances in a 30-26 home defeat to Cardiff.

A hat-trick of September losses would leave Keys having to repeat last year's effort when they played catch-up superbly to finish third in the table despite an indifferent start.

"Bedwas are a tough, abrasive side and I don't think that going to Bridge Field would be high on your list of places to go when you are looking to get going but it should sharpen the mind," said Woods.

"The boys are hurting because they have been two games that we have dominated in every way apart from on the scoreboard.

"We've obviously got to improve on our defence because we've been gifting tries while we have been spending long spells in the 22 without coming away with points.

"But we won't panic despite not getting off to the start that we wanted and we are looking forward to this weekend."

Keys will have to cope without former Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons scrum-half Richie Rees for "the foreseeable future" after he suffered a hamstring tear against the Blue and Blacks.

James Leadbeater will take the strain with Dragons Under-18s prospect Owain Leonard his back-up.

Bedwas, meanwhile, have made an encouraging start to the season with a win at Carmarthen Quins on opening day and the consolation of a losing bonus point from their trip to Aberavon.

Coach Steve Law wants his players to rise to the physical challenge when they run out on home soil for the first time.

"Keys are always strong up front and I'd say that they have potentially the second strongest squad in the league behind Ponty," he said.

"I know that they are disappointed with the start they have made and that they will be looking to put that right but it's up to us to start strongly in our first home game.

"We need to play to our full potential for the full 80 minutes, something we didn't do at Aberavon. They were the better side over the whole game, although I was pleased that we fought back for a bonus point and even created enough opportunities to win."

Bedwas are unable to feature Dragons lock Matthew Screech, who started both games out west, because it is a derby, that's despite Ebbw Vale and Newport featuring senior regional players in their encounter last week. Young Dragons lock Joe Davies is available.

Bedwas edged two tight league encounters last season but Keys sneaked victory in the last eight of the Swalec Cup.