WOUNDED Ebbw Vale will be looking for a response to a rare hammering when they host Cardiff in the Principality Premiership this afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm), writes Chris Kirwan.

The Steelmen were thrashed 50-0 by Llandovery last weekend, their first drubbing since the relegation season of 2009/10

They need to fire back against the in-form Blue and Blacks with their cause aided by the return of influential lock Damien Hudd after he was unavailable for the trip to Church Bank.

After comprehensive wins against Bedwas and Llanelli, Cross Keys should make it three on the spin against struggling Bridgend at Pandy Park.

Keys have tinkered with their XV and give starts to full-back Owen Howe and prop Gary Carpenter against their old side.

Newport sneaked the spoils against Bedwas at Rodney Parade last weekend but will need to up their game against Aberavon at the Talbot Athletic Ground.

The Wizards have won four from four so the Black and Ambers will need another strong display from on-song promising back row forward Ollie Griffiths, who is pushing hard for a Dragons call-up.

Bedwas could have been chaalenging at the top end of the table but their wastefulness means tey are hunting win number two against Neath.

Matthew Screech is in Dublin with the Dragons so his regional teammate Cory Hill prarners Joe Davies in the second row.

Ebbw Vale (v Cardiff): D Haymond, D Williams, J Howells, N Preece, T Watkins, I Smerdon, T Edwards, R Jones, M Williams, G Robinson, D Hudd (captain), A Sweet, H Keddie, R Kynes, E Doyle. Replacements: J Franchi, I George, R Sevenoaks, J Bartlett, R Clarke, C Thomas, C Levesley, S Jones.

Cross Keys (v Bridgend): O Howe, L Lewis, L Andrews (captain), P Uhi, N Trowbridge, E Davies, J Leadbeater, G Carpenter, E Shipp, A Lott, S Andrews, D Hodge, R Tucker, S Matthews, I Jones. Replacements: D Hughes, L Garrett, L Brown, T Lampard, E Jones, J Prosser, O Leonard, A Powell.

Newport (at Aberavon): L ap Myrddin, W Cunliffe, A King, B Nightingale, E Frewen, A Robson, R James, J Lavender, A Watkins, L Fairbrother, D Partridge, R Jones, R Jenkins, C Attwell, O Griffiths. Replacements: E Whitson, T Piper, J Greenfield, B Morgan, B Lampit, A Bidgood, J Mogg, J Morris.

Bedwas (v Neath): J Dixon, R Budina, C Edwards, M Callow, M John/A Evans, R Powell (captain), T Rowlands, B Toms, A Rees, M Pettit, J Davies, C Hill, J Skinner, G Lee, A Waite. Replacements: R Wilkes, D Preece, J Mills, C Tucker, S Montieri, L Crane, G Davies, L Hudd.