EBBW Vale captain Chay Billen (pictured) looks to have lost his race to be fit for tomorrow's Welsh/Scottish League clash against Cardiff.

The Steelmen's skipper has been suffering with a recurring neck injury he picked up in Vale's European Shield campaign and he needs constant treatment to take his place in the side.

But Billen will not start tomorrow's match (2.30pm) at the Arms Park allowing South African Ockert Booyse to keep his place in the second-row alongside Neil Edwards after a good performance in Vale's 20-10 Principality Cup win over Neath.

Billen is sure to feature in the game at some point as the Gwent side bid to achieve a rare double over Cardiff after beating them 22-20 at Eugene Cross Park in December. But he admitted he may need an operation in the summer to completely cure the injury.

"It's been bad recently," he said. "Some mornings it's a real struggle to get my head off the pillow.

"I think I'll be starting on the bench, it's frustrating, but I still haven't missed a game since Mike Ruddock and Kevin Hopkins took over. I want to keep that record.

"I'm going to have a chat with the club's surgeon to determine if the scans and x-rays I've already had show if I need an operation, an injection or just rest. It's not the sort of injury you want to mess about with."

While Billen may be struggling, Cardiff are definitely licking their wounds after being humbled by Vale.

Their South African coach Rudy Joubert has said that his team need to settle the score following their defeat at Vale, but Billen begs to differ.

"We have don well down there recently," Billen said. "I read that Joubert says they owe us one, but we'll see about that.

"Our recent win over Neath was a great result for the club, we spoiled their game and with Cardiff missing the likes of Rhys Williams, Craig Quinnell and Dai Young we have a good chance.

"We haven't played much rugby since the Neath game and the boys are looking forward to it, the team are buzzing."

Billen has no qualms about sitting this one out from the starting XV after the front five laid the platform for the defeat of Neath and deserved to be selected en masse on merit. But he admitted: "I just hope I feature at some point."

Ebbw Vale : G Cull, A Takarangi, R Shorney, P Matthews, A Wagstaff/D Rogers, M James, L Lane, I Thomas, L Phillips. M Jones, O Booyse/C Billen, N Edwards, K Tuipulotu/R Williams, W Thomas, P Williams