DAMIAN Welch leads Cross Keys into battle at Parc y Scarlets tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm) well aware of just how important it is the visitors return to Gwent with a sixth win of the season under their belts.

Going to Llanelli, the side one point above them in the Principality Premiership relegation zone, Keys are nine points off guaranteed safety.

And this weekend’s fixture is all the more crucial for Keys as it’s their last of the campaign against a team in the bottom six.

After tomorrow they tackle Merthyr, Aberavon, Llandovery, Pontypridd, Newport and RGC 1404.

“We’ve made these games big for ourselves by the fact there were so many this season we could have and should have put away, especially earlier on when we weren’t turning good performances into wins,” said skipper Welch.

“We’ve got enough games left to get out of trouble, but we are definitely in must-win territory with this one, and we’ve got to approach every game now with the mindset that it’s a must-win.

“The important thing is not to start looking too far ahead or we’ll box ourselves into a corner, we just have to take everything as it comes.

“We’ll try and focus on our own performance and, as the old cliché goes, the results will take care of themselves.

“Wherever we end up, we end up, we’ll deserve to be wherever we finish in the table.”

He added: “There is still massive enthusiasm within the squad, no-one is giving up.

“We’ve got a few of the big boys left to play, like Merthyr and Pontypridd, and it would be quite a feat if we could escape from it all.

“There’s no point sitting around and bemoaning your bad luck, you’ve got to be positive and think things will go your way.”

Keys and Llanelli fought out a 5-5 draw at Pandy Park earlier in the season.